What causes sonometer wire to vibrate in A.C Sonometer experiments?

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SUMMARY

The A.C Sonometer experiment demonstrates that the sonometer wire vibrates due to the interaction between an applied alternating current (A.C) voltage and an external magnetic field. The A.C voltage generates a varying magnetic field that interacts with the static magnetic field, resulting in a force that causes both the wire and the external magnet to vibrate. The wire's low mass compared to the external magnet allows for noticeable cyclic displacement, which can be measured to observe the vibrations of both components.

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  • Understanding of A.C voltage principles
  • Knowledge of magnetic fields and their interactions
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  • Basic principles of sonometry
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Amith2006
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Sir,
In an A.C Sonometer experiment, what is the principle on which the sonometer wire vibrates when an A.C voltage and a magnetic field is applied between any 2 points of the wire?
 
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The applied AC voltage generates a constantly varying magnetic field, which engages and reacts with the static external magnetic field, causing a force reaction in BOTH the AC wire and the external magnet. The wire, often being very thin and of a mass much lower than the external magnet, exhibits a noticable cyclic displacement.
Careful measurements would show that the external magnet also vibrates from this scenario.
 

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