# Vibrating aluminium string

## Homework Statement

An aluminium block of m is hung from a steel wire of length L. The fundamental
frequency for transverse standing waves on the wire is 300 Hz. The block
is then immersed in water so that half of its volume is submerged. What is the
new fundamental frequency? (You may assume that the mass of the wire is small
compared to the mass of the block and the change in length of the wire under

## Homework Equations

Speed of wave on a string,

$$v=\sqrt{\frac{T}{\mu}}$$

Buoyancy force

$$F=\rho g V$$

## The Attempt at a Solution

$$\frac{fL}{2}=\sqrt{\frac{T}{\mu}}$$

when suspended in air,

$$150L=\sqrt{\frac{mg}{\mu}}$$

When half of its volume immersed in water,

$$\frac{fL}{2}=\sqrt{\frac{mg-\frac{\rho_{water}gV}{2}}{\mu}}=\sqrt{\frac{mg-\frac{\rho_{water}mg}{2\rho_{Al}}}{\mu}}$$

$$f=300\sqrt{1-\frac{\rho_{water}}{2\rho_{Al}}$$

Subbing in values gives me a value of 270Hz...

are my steps correct?

Last edited:

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alphysicist
Homework Helper
Hi kudoshinichi,

## Homework Statement

An aluminium block of m is hung from a steel wire of length L. The fundamental
frequency for transverse standing waves on the wire is 300 Hz. The block
is then immersed in water so that half of its volume is submerged. What is the
new fundamental frequency? (You may assume that the mass of the wire is small
compared to the mass of the block and the change in length of the wire under

## Homework Equations

Speed of wave on a string,

$$v=\sqrt{\frac{T}{\mu}}$$

Buoyancy force

$$F=\rho g V$$

## The Attempt at a Solution

$$\frac{fL}{2}=\sqrt{\frac{T}{\mu}}$$
I think your final expression at the end of your post is correct. But this expression is not quite right; the fundamental wavelength is 2L, not L/2. However, in this problem the wavelength will cancel out.

when suspended in air,

$$150L=\sqrt{\frac{mg}{\mu}}$$

When half of its volume immersed in water,

$$\frac{fL}{2}=\sqrt{\frac{mg-\frac{\rho_{water}gV}{2}}{\mu}}=\sqrt{\frac{mg-\frac{\rho_{water}mg}{2\rho_{Al}}}{\mu}}$$

$$f=300\sqrt{1-\frac{\rho_{water}}{2\rho_{Al}}$$

Subbing in values gives me a value of 270Hz...

are my steps correct?

Delphi51
Homework Helper
Again, every line checks. Very clever of you to eliminate the unknown V that way.
Okay, I see the error Alphysicist points out. Thank you.

Last edited:
Oh! -_-"

Carelessness... Well, I guess I need to sleep. It's 4.30am here...

Thank you for your insight! I appreciate it a lot!