Fundamental frequency of a standing wave

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a standing wave established in a string of length 150 cm, which vibrates in four segments at a driving frequency of 140 Hz. Participants are tasked with finding the wavelength and fundamental frequency of the wave.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants attempt to calculate the wavelength using the relationship between length and segments, questioning where errors may have occurred in their calculations. Some explore the implications of different segment counts on wavelength and frequency.

Discussion Status

Several participants express confusion regarding their calculations and the relationship between frequency, wavelength, and wave speed. There is an ongoing exploration of assumptions about the problem setup, including unit consistency and the driving frequency. Some participants have noted discrepancies in their results compared to expected answers.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention potential issues with unit conversions between meters and centimeters, as well as the possibility of errors in the problem statement itself. There is also a reference to the due date for the assignment and subsequent discussions with a teacher regarding the problem's validity.

dlthompson81
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Homework Statement



A standing wave is established in a string of length 150 cm fixed at both ends. The string vibrates in four segments when driven at 140 Hz.

Find the wavelength in meters.

Find the fundamental frequency.

Homework Equations



L = Nλ
v = fλ

The Attempt at a Solution



L = Nλ
1.5m = 2λ λ = 0.75m (This answer was correct)


v = fλ
v = 140(0.75) = 105
L = Nλ
1.5m = (1/2)λ λ = 3
v = fλ
105=f3 f = 35 Hz (This was wrong)

Where did I go wrong on this? Thanks for the help.
 
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dlthompson81 said:

Homework Statement



A standing wave is established in a string of length 150 cm fixed at both ends. The string vibrates in four segments when driven at 140 Hz.

Find the wavelength in meters.

Find the fundamental frequency.

Homework Equations



L = Nλ
v = fλ

The Attempt at a Solution



L = Nλ
1.5m = 2λ λ = 0.75m (This answer was correct)


v = fλ
v = 140(0.75) = 105
L = Nλ
1.5m = (1/2)λ λ = 3
v = fλ
105=f3 f = 35 Hz (This was wrong)

Where did I go wrong on this? Thanks for the help.

fo should be related to f by the number of nodes
The only other explanation is a f0 of 70hz that is referring to the segments of the standing wave + original wave in counting segments
 
If the string vibrates with only one segment, what is the wavelength?
 
If only one segment is vibrating, then the wavelength is 2 * Length. Since the string is 1.5m long, that would make the wavelength 3m. Right?
 
dlthompson81 said:
If only one segment is vibrating, then the wavelength is 2 * Length. Since the string is 1.5m long, that would make the wavelength 3m. Right?
Right.
 
To get the frequency I need to divide the speed of the wave by the wavelength.

The speed is the frenquency * wavelength.

So v = 140Hz * 3 = 420

Then v = fλ:
420 = f3
f = 140 ?

Is that it?
 
Last edited:
Ok. So I tried that answer. It's not right either. I'm totally lost I guess.
 
The speed is the same for all the waves, and f·λ = speed of the wave, so ...
 
The speed is 420.

I'm not sure of what wavelength to use.

3 was the wavelength at 2*L

0.75 was the wavelength for the first part of the problem when there were 4 segments on the string

420/.75 = 560 doesn't sound right, if the wavelength gets longer and speed stays constant, then f should be getting smaller

420/3 was wrong, 3 was the wavelength if there was only one section on the string which i thought was the correct wavelength
 
  • #10
3 is also the wavelength of the fundamental.
 
  • #11
So, wouldn't it be:

v = f λ

420 = f 3

420/3 = 140

Or, did I mess up on the speed somehow?
 
  • #12
Didn't you calculate the speed as 105 m/s ?

OK, that gives 35 Hz, which you said was wrong.
 
  • #13
Yes. But I thought I had it wrong.

I originally had the problem in the original post as this:

105=f3 105/3 f=35

Which was wrong according to my homework program.
 
  • #14
I found several other example problems that I worked out the same exact way and got those right, but when I worked it out for my homework and entered it in, it was wrong. I don't know where I went wrong.
 
  • #15
Ok. So the due date was this morning, and I can download the answers now. I'm going to discuss it with my teacher because I don't believe the answer was correct.

The answer was:

f = v/2L = fλ/2L = (140 Hz)(0.75 m) / 2(150 cm) = 0.35 Hz

I'm thinking the m and cm is a mistake. I think it should all be in units of meters or centimeters.
 
  • #16
dlthompson81 said:
Ok. So the due date was this morning, and I can download the answers now. I'm going to discuss it with my teacher because I don't believe the answer was correct.

The answer was:

f = v/2L = fλ/2L = (140 Hz)(0.75 m) / 2(150 cm) = 0.35 Hz

I'm thinking the m and cm is a mistake. I think it should all be in units of meters or centimeters.

Are you sure the driving frequency wasn't 1.40 Hz, rather than 140 Hz. That would explain it also. 1.40 Hz sounds more reasonable for a string.
 
  • #17
I talked to the teacher about it. He said it was a mistake in the problem. He gave everyone credit for it.

Thanks for the help with it. I hate I took up your time with an unsolvable problem.
 

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