Problems
1) An electric guitar has 6 strings of length 648 mm. The top E string has a frequency of 659.26 Hz, when then
second harmonic is played. What is the velocity in the string?
2) A string wave equation is given by y = 0.02 sin (300t-15x) and mass density μ = 0.1 kgm-1 . Find the
tension in the string
3) The equation of a wave on a string of linear mass density 0.4 kgm-1 is given by y = 0.02 (m)
sin(2π(t/0.04(s))-x/0.50 (m)). Find the tension in the string.
4) The equation of a progressive wave is y = 0.05 sin (200t-x/2), where x and y in meters, t in seconds find, (i)
maximum velocity of the particles (iii) wavelength of the wave (iii) Velocity of the wave
5) A 2 m long string with a mass of 0.1kg is plucked with a tensional force of 500 N; a) what is the linear
density of the string; (b) calculate the velocity of the mechanical wave of the string c) determine the frequency
of the wave if it has a wavelength of 0.25m.
6) A standing wave is moving at 130 m/s on a 2.5 long string; a) what is the fundamental frequency of this
wave; b) what is the frequency of the third harmonic?; c) how many nodes and antinodes are present in the
wave of the third harmonic; d) what is the frequency of the 5th overtone; what is the wavelength of the 3rd
overtone.
7) A sine wave described by the equation x= 2 sin (2πt-3x) is progressing along an x axis. In order that a
standing wave in setup, what should be the eqn. of the reflected wave.
8) The equation of a plan progressive wave is y = 0.9 sin 4π(t-x/2); when its is reflected at a rigid support, its
amplitude become 2/3 of its original. What is will be the equation of the reflected wave.
9) Standing waves are produced by the superposition of two waves y = 0.05 sin (3πt-2x) and y = 0.05 sin
(3πt+2x); (y and x in m and t in sec) Find the amplitude of a particle at x= 0.5 m. (given cos 57.3º = 0.54)
10) The vibration of a string of length 60 cm fixed at both ends are represented by the eqn. y = 4 sin (πx/15)
cos(96 πt), where x and y are in cm and t in seconds. Write down the eqn. of component waves which
superposition gives the above wave.
11) The transverse displacement of a string (clamped at its both ends) is given by y(x,t) = 0.06 sin (2πx/3) cos
(120 πt). Where x and y are in m and s. The length of the string is 1.5m and its mas is 3 x 10-2 kg
Answer the following, i) Dose the function represent a travelling wave or stationary wave.
ii) Interpret the wave as a superposition of two waves travelling in opposite directions direction. What is the
wavelength, frequency and speed of each wave. iii) determine the tension in the string
12) A rope under a tension of 200N and fixed at both ends, oscillates in a second harmonic standing wave
pattern. The displacement of the rope is given by y = 0.1 sin (πx/2) sin 12 πt. Where x=0 at one end of the
rope, x is in meter and t in seconds. What is the mass of the rope?
13) Prove that y = A cos (9πt-8x) is a valid wave equation in string vibration. Also find, velocity, wavenumber,
wavelength and frequency. If ρ of the string is 0.7 kg/m then find the impedance of the string.