Vibrations of Stretched Strings — Chapter Summary
ICSE · Class 11 · Physics
Summary of Vibrations of Stretched Strings for ICSE Class 11 Physics. Part of the ICSE Class 11 Physics syllabus.
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Overview
A stretched string or wire of uniform diameter and perfect flexibility produces transverse stationary waves when plucked. The wire is fixed at both ends, so nodes form at the ends and the string vibrates in definite modes. The frequency depends on vibrating length, tension, and mass per unit length.
Key Concepts
A string is a wire
A string is a wire or fibre of uniform diameter and no rigidity. When fixed at both ends and plucked, it can support transverse stationary waves.
The speed of a transverse wave
The speed of a transverse wave on a wire is v = √(T/m), where T is tension and m is mass per unit length.
For a wire clamped at both
For a wire clamped at both ends, n = v/(2l) = (1/2l)√(T/m), where l is the vibrating length.
For a given string under
For a given string under a given tension, frequency varies inversely as vibrating length: n ∝ 1/l, or nl = constant.
For a uniform string of given
For a uniform string of given length and material, frequency varies directly as the square root of tension: n ∝ √T.
Learning Objectives
- Understand how transverse waves travel on a stretched string and form stationary waves.
- Use the relation v = √(T/m) for wave speed on a wire.
- Find the frequency of a stretched string using n = (1/2l)√(T/m).
- Apply the laws of length, tension, and mass for vibrating strings.
- Identify fundamental tone, overtones, harmonics, nodes, and antinodes.
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