A Somewhat Tense Lab

A Somewhat Tense Lab

Procedure (1):

Weight Constant

1. Make sure that the frequency adjuster and the measurer are synced up. 
2. Attach the string to the frequency adjuster
3. Place the 20 kilogram weight on the end of the string that is loose
4. Put the string through the pulley so that is secured at the end of the table and the weight is hanging off of the table
5. Shift the frequency so that there are three standing waves
6. Adjust the tension of the string
7. When the string reaches a point where there are 3 standing waves, measure the still space in between each standing waves to find the wavelength
8. Repeat steps 5/6/7 till enough data is collected
9. Fill in data chart
10. Multiply the wavelength by the frequency to find the speed of each wave

Data (1):

Graph (1):

Procedure (2):

Weight Shift

1. Make sure that the frequency adjuster and the measurer are synced up. 
2. Attach the string to the frequency adjuster
3. Put the string through the pulley so that is secured at the end of the table and the hanger is hanging off of the table
4. Place the lowest weight onto the hanger
5. Adjust the frequency of the wave until there are 3 standing waves
6. When the string reaches a point where there are 3 standing waves, measure the still space in between each standing waves to find the wavelength
7. Place the next weight on the hanger
8. Repeat steps 5/6/7 till enough data is collected
9. Fill in data chart
10. Multiply the wavelength by the frequency to find the speed of each wave

Data (2):

Chart (2): 

Analysis:

While the formula to find wave speed is Wave Speed = Frequency x Wave Length, this does not mean wave length and frequency are indicators of where wave speed comes from. Wave speed is less telling of the wave that is moving than it is of the medium it is traveling in. Therefore, it is the density, mass, and tension of the string the wave is traveling through that effect the wave speed. If you were to image the same wave traveling through molasses and water, the waves may have the same frequency and the same wave length, but the speed the wave is traveling at is different. Our data further supports the relationship between the medium the wave is traveling and the wave. When the weight of the object is increased, it is clear that the speed is increasing too. This is because as the weight of the hanger increases, the tension of the string increases as well due to a higher weight pulling on the string. The graph supports this.