How to Calculate Mass of a Wire for Measuring Wave Speed

[skiing4free]

Homework Statement

I have been writing up a Physics Experiment with working out the speed of waves in a wire.
The wire is stretched across two points which send vibrational pulses down the wire. I am stuck with working out the Mass of the wire throw theoretical methods? hope anyone can help...

Homework Equations

Wave speed=122ms^-1
Tension=3.13N^1/2
Length=.9m
Mass of length=?


Wave speed=(tension T/mass per unit length)^1/2

The Attempt at a Solution

My answer mass=.21029gm^2, just not sure if this is right, it sounds to light for the length of the wire. hope anyone has any ideas ;)

 

[Integral]

You need to pay better attention to your units. How could the wire have a mass in g ²? is not mass just grams? Also in your post you give the Tension in N ^1/2 ? What is that?

All you need do is solve your given expression for mass per unit length. This quantity will have units of $\frac {kg} m$. Then multiply by your length to get a result in kg.

 

[skiing4free]

right I see what you mean, sorry about N ^1/2 i meant the tension is in Newtons to the power of a half, but i understand why i went wrong, thanks for the help. Cheers Intergral