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timtng
Nov8-03, 11:18 PM
A sound wave of velocity 600 m/s has a wavelength of 3 m. At a certain instant one of the molecules of the medium is at its normal position. How long will it be before this same molecule is again at its normal position?

v=fλ, f=v/λ =(600m/s)/3m = 200Hz
T=1/f=1/200=.005s

t=T/2 = .0025s Is this answer correct?

Thanks

Ambitwistor
Nov8-03, 11:28 PM
Yes.

timtng
Nov8-03, 11:40 PM
Another problem of the same sort.

Standing waves are produced on a string for which the velocity of transverse waves is 200 m/s. The frequency of vibration is 500 Hz. How far apart are the nodes?

I can only find λ, λ=v/f=200/500=.4m

I don't know how to finish the rest of the problem

Ambitwistor
Nov8-03, 11:44 PM
That's like the previous problem. The nodes are the places where the transverse displacement of the string is zero, so they occur every half-wavelength.

timtng
Nov9-03, 08:13 PM
So the answer should be λ/2?

Ambitwistor
Nov9-03, 08:38 PM
Originally posted by timtng
So the answer should be λ/2?

Yes, that's what "half-wavelength" means.

timtng
Nov9-03, 08:42 PM
shouldn't the answer be: L-λ/2

Ambitwistor
Nov9-03, 08:46 PM
Originally posted by timtng
shouldn't the answer be: L-λ/2

No, why?

timtng
Nov9-03, 09:21 PM
I figured since they ask how far apart are the nodes, L has to be a contributing factor.

Ambitwistor
Nov9-03, 09:27 PM
Originally posted by timtng
I figured since they ask how far apart are the nodes, L has to be a contributing factor.

L will be some integer multiple of λ/2, but if you already know λ, it doesn't matter what L is. L just dictates how many nodes there are.

HallsofIvy
Nov10-03, 07:00 AM
I figured since they ask how far apart are the nodes, L has to be a contributing factor.

Did you notice that there was no "L" given in the problem?

We were given, instead, the frequency.

If you were given the wavespeed (determined by the mass and tension of the string) and length, then you could find the frequency. Here, that's not necessary.