Transverse Waves

Bernardino, Rafael Ivan D., De Chavez, Dan Amiel A., Lomentigar, Nicole S., Naungayan, Jeffrey Angelo N.,
Relosa, Irha F.
Mapúa University

Abstract: This experiment mainly tackles the topic of transverse waves. It has a primary
objective of determining the effect of altering the tension on the string and the diameter of
the string (linear mass density) on the frequency of vibration. The two-part experiment
consists of two setups, with the first one setting the linear mass density as constant and
letting the tension forces vary. Meanwhile, the second setup has uniform tension forces all
throughput while altering the linear mass densities in each of the five trials. Consequently,
the values of the vibration frequency and percentage errors were computed, leading to the
conclusion that tension and frequency are directly related, whereas linear mass density and
frequency vary inversely.
1. INTRODUCTION vibration can be basically calculated using the
Transverse waves are referred to as the general wave equation, where v is the velocity, f is
movement or disturbance across a medium that the frequency, and λ is the wavelength of the wave:
follows a periodic or cyclical pattern. These are v=f λ
waves in motion when the medium’s constituent But since there is no variable for
particles oscillate about their mean position at an wavelength and velocity in the experiment, the
angle to the wave’s direction of propagation. In this wavelength was just expressed in terms of the
kind of wave, the medium contains particles that quotient of the number of segments (n) and twice
vibrate in the opposite direction from the wave that the length of the string. Meanwhile, the velocity was
the wave is propagating. It is claimed that in this expressed as the square root of the tension over the
wave, a crest and trough form, and the transverse linear mass density, and as aligned with the chosen
wave polarization is also feasible. harmonics, the utilized formulas are as follows:
The waves can travel through solids and
liquids but never through gases because they lack 3 2
elastic characteristics. Examples of transverse f= √❑ f= √❑
2L 2L
waves include electromagnetic waves, water
ripples, and vibration in strings.
In the first setup of the experiment, the
diameter of the string and its linear density are the
2. THEORY constant values, while the varying parameter is the
This experiment primarily worked on
tension on the string, and from the tabulated data, it
standing waves, which are combinations of two
could be observed that as most of the tension values
waves that are moving in opposite directions but
directly increase with the computed frequency of
with the same amplitude and frequency. While
vibration. This is because as the tension increases,
carrying out the experiment, the concept of the
the wave speed also increases, which is directly
different types of harmonics was tackled:
proportional to the wave frequency, according to
fundamental or first harmonic which has one
the general wave equation. On the other hand, in the
segment, second harmonic or first overtone which
second setup of the experiment, the tension on the
has two segments, and third harmonic or second
string is set constant, whereas the linear mass
overtone which has three segments. With this, the
density of the string varies in all trials, which lead to
experimenters initially predetermined the type of
tabulated data showing that as the linear mass
harmonic that they are going to observe, which are
density increases, the wave frequency decreases
third and second harmonic in the first and second
thus having an inverse relationship.
setups, respectively,

The experiment primarily aims to 3. MATERIALS and PROCEDURES

determine the effects of (a) changing the tension This experiment was done in a face-to-face
and the (b) linear mass density of the string on the setup, making use of the materials, namely, 1 pc
frequency of the vibration of the transverse waves string vibrator, 1 pc sine wave generator, 2 pcs iron
formed from mounting the string generator and stand with clamp, 1 pc pulley, 1 set weights, 1 pc
sine generator on the iron stand. The frequency of mass hanger, 1 pc extension cord, 1 pc meter stick,
and 5 pcs guitar strings. This experiment consisted mass density. Then, the percentage difference is
of two setups, the first one was to determine the calculated, but in this experiment, the
effect of changing the tension on the frequency of experimenters resorted to getting the percentage
the vibration of the string and the second one was error instead because regardless of the adjustments
to determine the effect of changing the linear mass they made, the percentage difference always ends
density on the frequency of the vibration of the up getting beyond 20 percent.
string. Initially, the different materials were
assembled accordingly by mounting the sine wave mass 2❑ n
generator and the string vibrator on the iron stand, T= x 9.8 m¿ s f = √❑
1000 2L
connecting the string vibrator to the output jacks of
the sine wave generator, and connecting the
assembled instrument to a power supply.
4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
This experiment consists of two setups
In the first setup, the guitar string with the with five trials each. Initially, the experimenters
biggest diameter (0.022 in) was chosen by the were tasked to predetermine the type of harmonic
experimenters for all five trials, and then its one end that they ought to observe as it oscillates in the sine
was tied to the stylus of the string generator while wave generator and string vibrator. For the first
its other end is placed over the pulley and attached setup, the experimenters chose to observe a third
to the mass hanger. In each of the five trials, five harmonic or second overtone, which consists of
different weights were placed on the mass hanger three segments, four nodes, and three antinodes.
respectively, 55 g, 75 g, 95 g, 105 g, and 125 g. Then, Meanwhile, in the second setup, they chose to
the string vibrator was turned on, and then the observe a second harmonic or first overtone, which
frequency and amplitude were adjusted accordingly consists of two segments, three nodes, and two
until the segment formation is already clearly antinodes.
defined. After that, the length of the string at the
point wherein three segments are already visible in In the first setup, the set constant variable
the waves was recorded. is the diameter of the wire, and the experimenters
decided to use the 0.022-inch string because it is
Meanwhile, in the second setup, the deemed to be the easiest to observe. Since the
experimenters initially chose to retain a tension diameter of the wire is uniform all throughout, the
force of 0.735 N on the string. Unlike the first setup, linear mass density, which is an intrinsic property
here, all the guitar strings of different diameters of the diameter of the wire, is also kept constant in
were used in each of the five trials of the the five trials. Contrary to this, the varying variables
experiment, and since the linear mass density are the tension forces that were placed on the
changes along with the type of string, the linear string, and as it can be observed in the following
mass densities 0.0039 g/cm, 0.0078 g/cm, 0.0112 table, the frequency of vibration directly increases
g/cm, 0.0150 g/cm, and 0.0184 g/cm. have been the along with the applied tension because as the
varying variables in each trial of the second setup. tension increases, the wave speed also increases,
Then, the string vibrator was turned on, and then thereby driving the frequency to increase as well.
the frequency and amplitude were adjusted
accordingly until the segment formation is already
clearly defined. After that, the length of the string at
the point wherein three segments are already
visible in the waves was recorded.

Prior to determining the different values

for tension, the combined mass of the pan and the Meanwhile, in the second setup, the set
mass of the placed weights were first converted into constant variable is the tension on the wire at 0.735
force by dividing the net mass values by 1000 and N. On the other hand, the changing variables are the
multiplying the quotient with 9.8 m/s 2. Moreover, respective linear mass densities of the string, which
in computing for the frequency, the quotient means that for each of the five trials, a different
between the harmonic number and the product of 2 string oscillates. Having the tension as constant,
and the length of the string was multiplied by the from the succeeding tabulated data, it can be
square root of the quotient of the tension and linear observed that the frequency of vibration inversely
varies along with the linear mass density of the
string because denser molecules vibrate at much
slower speeds, thus affecting the frequency

5. CONCLUSION
The experiment tackles the concepts of
waves, mainly transverse waves, which occur when
the medium's constituent particles vibrate
perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.
The variables influencing the vibration frequency
are the tension and the linear mass density. Based
on the tabulated results, it was concluded that the
tension on the string directly affects the vibration's
frequency in a way that frequency increases as the
tension increases. However, results from the second
setup revealed that an inverse relationship exists
between the diameter of the string and the
vibration frequency. Consequently, as the linear
mass density increases, so does the frequency. In
carrying out the experiment, some observed
sources of error were applying too much tension on
the string as this prevents the spring from moving
to produce motion that resembles a wave in relation
to the generated disturbance. However, in regard to
linear mass density, exerting less tension on the
string lowers the segment count. With all of these
concepts, in applying this experiment to the real
world, transverse waves are actually present in
several home appliances such as radios, televisions,
and microwaves, as these produce electric and
magnetic fields that are perpendicular to each other.

6. REFERENCES

Prout, S. (2018). How to Manifest Anything You

Want with the Law of Vibration. Retrieved by
2017

Transverse waves are referred to as the movement

or (Relosa,2018)

transverse wave, motion in which all points on a

wave oscillate along paths at right angles to the
direction of the wave’s advance. (The Editor of
Encyclopedia Britannica)

Acoustic and vibration Animation (1998)

Daniel Russels