Solving Moving Crests Problem: Acceleration Zero @ .75m

[imranq]

Homework Statement

A crest is created on a string by vibrating it. The crests have two periods on the string which is 3 m long. At what point will the crest have an acceleration of zero?

I had gotten this problem from a science competition and really had no idea how to do it. But I assumed that the vibrations would make a sine curve and the place where acceleration is zero would be where $$\frac {d^{2}}{dx^{2}} \sin {x} = 0$$

Thereby I calculated an answer of .75m, but could someone clarify this for me?

Homework Statement

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

.75m

 

[apelling]

I can't see that there is a sensible answer to this question. The 'crest' of a wave usually moves forward at a steady velocity. This implies no acceleration. Perhaps the question refers to a stationary wave. The crest then never moves!
How a crest has two periods does not make sense to me either. Does this mean there are two crest on the string (stationary wave) or one crest takes two time periods to traverse the string(progressive wave)
Alternatively you could consider the acceleration back to the equilibrium position ie from the crest down to the mid line. But a crest is the point of max acceleration by definition.

 

[imranq]

I think when they mention 'crest' they mean to imagine a very small amount of string that is moving in a crest and that obviously accelerates and decelerates depending on how the crest is created. That was my logic, or else I couldn't solve it.

 

[apelling]

Ok If we concentrate on one piece of the string then it is in simple harmonic motion.

The equation for this is a=-Amplitude*(2*pi*freq.)^2*sin[(2*pi*freq.)t]
a= acceleration
amplitude = max distance moved from mid point
freq= number of oscillations per second

But this does not seem to get a solution any closer. There are too many unknowns.

I'm still unclear as to whether they mean a standing wave like the vibration of a guitar string or a progressive wave that moves along the string.

Have you got the precise wording of the question correct?

 

[imranq]

Its hazy right now, maybe the question had a different wording, but I can't check right now