Lab Report-4: Melde's Experiment

INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD
Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences

Department of Physics
Course : PHY 120
LAB REPORT- 4
Melde’s Experiment
Submitted By : Submitted to :
Sana Muhammad Ishfaq Mam Amber Salim
1945-FBAS/BSPHY/F20
05th JAN ,2021

Objective:
• To determine the frequency of ac main.
• Observe the stationary waves.

• Determine wavelength, amplitude and time
period of waves.
Apparatus:
• String
• Weight box
• Pan
• Solenoid
• Pulley
• A.C main
• Bulb
• Key
• Horse shoe magnet
• Rod
Introduction:
Melde’s Experiment is a scientific
experiment carried out in a 1859 by the German
Physicist Franz Melde on the standing waves
produced by in a tense cable originally set
oscillating by a turning fork, later improved with
connection to on electric vibrator and Ac mains. .
This experiment was attempted to demonstrate
that mechanical waves undergo interference
phenomena. In the experiment, mechanical waves
traveled in opposite directions form immobile
points, called nodes. These waves were called
standing waves by Melde since the position of the
nodes and loops (points where the cord vibrated)
stayed static.
Theoretical Explanation:
Melde’s apparatus is essentially

an electric vibrator.it consists of an iron rod
AB passing through a solenoid along its axis.
Its one end is fixed and other end is free to
vibrate between poles piece of permanent
horse shoe magnet. A string of fixed diameter
is attached to free end and this string passes
over the pulley and at the other free end of
string a pan is attached. Current is supplied
to solenoid from A.C mains through an
electric bulb connected in series with
windings of solenoid to avoid overheating of
solenoid. The weight on the Pan will cause
tension in the string it can be increase and
decrease by putting different weights in pan.
The length of the string is adjusted by the
position of pulley. Magnetic field of solenoid
magnetizes the rod. So it’s one end becomes
North Pole and other end becomes South
Pole. But as alternating Current changes
direction polarities of ends of rod are also
interchanged. As a result its end begins to
vibrate between pole pieces of permanent
magnet with frequency of A.C supply. The
system is Operated by turning on the A.C
supply .Due to A.C (alternating current ) rod
begins to vibrate.
Working Principal:
In this Experiment, Mechanical
waves travelled in opposite directions from
immobile point called nodes. These waves
were called standing waves by Melde since
the position of the nods and loops stayed static.
Types Of Arrangement:
There are two type of
Arrangement in Melde’s Experiment , We
observe two types of Longitudinal and
transverse stationary waves.
● Transverse Mode
● Longitudinal Mode
TRANSVERSE ARRANGEMENT:
For the production of transverse
stationary waves we will place rod at the one end
of the table and the pulley at the other end of the
table then we have one end of string connected
with rod and other end with pan, both rod and
string should be with zero degree to each other,
the waves in the result will be stationary waves.
LONGITUDINAL ARRANGEMENT:
For the production of
longitudinal waves, we need to place the rod
vertically at the 90 degree with the string which
will result in compression and refraction along
the string when rod will vibrate with A.C
frequency .
1 𝑇
Formula Used: f=2𝑙 √𝑚𝑜
Let’s analysis the small portion 𝛿𝑙, Consider it be

the arc of a circle and R is the radius of a circle. let
𝜃 be the angle the center and the one edge of a
arc , only force acting on the string is Tension ,so
the resultant force acting on it is mac .Therefore,
𝑣^2
2TSin𝜃 = 𝑚 𝑅
Now let 𝜃 𝑏𝑒 𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑜 𝑆𝑖𝑛𝜃 ≈ 𝜃
𝑣2
2T 𝜃 = 𝑚
𝑅
where m= mol
𝑣^2
2T 𝜃 = 𝑚𝑜𝑙
𝑅
𝑎𝑟𝑐 𝛿𝑙
And Angle 2𝜃= =
𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠 𝑅
𝛿𝑙 𝛿𝑙
𝑇 = mo 𝑣2
𝑅 𝑅
T=mov^2
√𝑇 𝑚
V=𝑚𝑜 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑜 = 𝐿
𝑇𝐿
V=√ 𝑚
Wavelength = λ=2l
𝑣
f=𝜆
1 𝑇
f= √
2𝑙 𝑚0
Experimental Procedure:
● Take out a suitable weight from weight box

(e.g. 10g) and put it in a pan. Also find out the
mass of the pan. The weight of this mass
including that of pan ) will provide T tension
to the thread.
● Switch on A.C supply to Melde’s apparatus

and adjust position of pulley such that the
thread vibrates in one or more loop with
maximum amplitude in the middle (anti
node) and nodes at the end of rod and at
pulley. Measure the length of “l’’ of thread
between the nodes.
● Take a place of thread about 2m in length,

measure its mass by physical balance and
determine mass per unit (m0) of thread.
● Substitute the value of l1 ,T and m0 in the

formula and find out the frequency “f” of A.C.
● Repeat procedure with different weights in
pans and calculate average frequency of A.C
mains.
Observations:
Observation Table of Transverse Arrangement:

Mass per unit a string m0 =146*10^-5g
SR.NO Mass in Tension in the

string
Numbers Length of
Threat
Length FREQUENCY
OF
pan m2 of Loops of VIBRATING
between
T=(m1+m2)980dyne
N extreme
each LINE
In g loop SEGMENTOF
nodes L
𝑳 STRING
l=𝑵 𝟏
f=𝟐𝒍 √𝑻/𝒎
(5+10)980=14700
1- 10g 4 100 25 63
(5+20)980=24500
2- 20g 3 92 30.6 67
(5+35)980=39200
3- 30g 2 78 39 66.4
Graph:
Tension
45000
40000
35000
30000
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000
Tension
● VERTICAL AXIS :TENSION(DYNE)

● HORIZONTAL AXIS : WAVELENGTH (l)^2
● Slope =𝑻/(𝜦^𝟐)=mof^2
Result:
Mean Frequency Of A.C mains= f = 65 Hz
Actual Frequency Of A.C main = 50 H

𝐸𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 – 𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
Percentage Of Error =| | * 100%
𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
65−50
= *100
50
=30%
Observation Table For longitudinal Waves:
Mass per unit a string m0 =146*10^-5g
SR.NO Mass in Tension in the
string
Numbers Length of
Threat
Length FREQUENCY
OF
pan m2 of Loops of VIBRATING
between
T=(m1+m2)980dyne
N extreme
each LINE
In g loop SEGMENTOF
nodes L STRING
𝐿
l=𝑁 1
f=2𝑙 √𝑇/𝑚
1- 1g (5+1)980=58 5 90 18 55.7
80
(5+2)980=6860
2- 2g 4 90 22.5 48
(5+4)980=8820
3- 4g 3 90 30 41
Graph:
Tension
10000
9000
8000
7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000
Tension
Results:
Mean Frequency Of A.C mains= 48Hz
Actual Frequency Of A.C main = 50 Hz
%Percentage Of Error = | | * 100

𝐸𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 – 𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
48−50
=| |*100
50
=4%
Conclusion:
Based from the result of this
experiment, it is concluded that average
frequency of string which was same as the
frequency of A.C main is 65Hz in Transverse
Arrangement of wave and 48Hz in Longitudinal
Arrangement of waves but The actual Frequency
of A.C main is 50Hz so our experimental values
are not accurate there are few factors such as :
material of string and friction because of them we
are having systematic error which can be
eliminate by taking better steps .
Discussion:
● Well defined loops were not obtained at

all values of Tension and only at some
particular values perfect loops were
obtained due to which there are less
number of observations and less
number of points on graph.
● In longitudinal Arrangement loops were
not forming by taking large values of
tension.
● This experiment converts AC main
energy into physical motion.

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INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD

Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences

Course : PHY 120

05th JAN ,2021

• Observe the stationary waves.

Melde’s apparatus is essentially

Let’s analysis the small portion 𝛿𝑙, Consider it be

Now let 𝜃 𝑏𝑒 𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑜 𝑆𝑖𝑛𝜃 ≈ 𝜃

● Take out a suitable weight from weight box

● Switch on A.C supply to Melde’s apparatus

● Take a place of thread about 2m in length,

● Substitute the value of l1 ,T and m0 in the

Observation Table of Transverse Arrangement:

SR.NO Mass in Tension in the

● VERTICAL AXIS :TENSION(DYNE)

Actual Frequency Of A.C main = 50 H

Actual Frequency Of A.C main = 50 Hz

%Percentage Of Error = | | * 100

● Well defined loops were not obtained at

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