# Wavelength of the 2nd Overtone of a string.

1. Jan 29, 2008

### MissKaylaPaige

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Find the wavelength of the 2nd overtone of a string 4.5 m long between points with a transverse speed of 48 m/s.

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

Since the fundamental frequency is 9, shouldn't the 2nd overtone be 2/3 of that? I'm completely baffled!

2. Jan 29, 2008

### MissKaylaPaige

3. Jan 29, 2008

### Dick

Ok, I'll try. Shouldn't the second overtone be three times the fundamental frequency? Furthermore, why should the fundamental frequency be '9'? Use units, please! Isn't the fundamental wavelength 9m? I think you are confusing wavelength and frequency.

4. Jan 29, 2008

### Mindscrape

I don't remember what an overtone is because it is worthless, all you care about are eigenfrequencies and harmonics, but I think she is right.

The first overtone, unless I am getting it confused with something else, would be if you were to divide the length of the string into half. The second would be if you were to divide it into 1/3, the fourth of 1/4, and then you want the node before the end. So for the second overtone 1-1/3 = 2/3. Of course then you would have to multiply that factor by the total wavelength.

5. Jan 29, 2008

### MissKaylaPaige

Yes, I meant the fundamental WAVELENGTH is 9m. The fundamental FREQUENCY is 5.3 Hz. But no, 3 times the fundamental frequency is not giving me the correct answer for the wavelength of the 2nd overtone.

6. Jan 30, 2008

### Dick

If the fundamental wavelength is 9m, then the second overtone is wavelength 3m. That has 3 times the frequency of the fundamental. Now you've got Mindscrape confused. The fundamental frequency isn't 5.3Hz, it's 16/3 Hz which is 5.33333333...Hz. I think you are making a rounding error.

Last edited: Jan 30, 2008
7. Feb 6, 2012

### Bob Dole

Dick is correct. Wave speed = frequency * wavelength

48.0 m/s = freq * 9 m
freq= 48/9 = 5.33 Hz

I know this is a post 4 years later and you either figured this problem out or shot your professors dog. Either way, I am taking physics 3 now and i am looking up overtone as well :) and im planning on shooting his dog :P

EDIT: I found out that MINDSCRAPER is correct, overtone is useless.

Overtone is related to harmonic by being 1 behind (aka. 2nd harmonic --> 1st overtone, 3rd harmonic --> 2nd overtone)
Therefore, 2nd overtone frequency = 3 * fundamental frequency
2nd overtone frequency = 3 * 9 m = 27 m
2nd overtone wavelength is found working backwards with the equation v = lambda * frequency

Last edited: Feb 6, 2012