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In the figure, a string, tied to a sinusoidal oscillator at P and running over a

ID: 1783565 • Letter: I

Question

In the figure, a string, tied to a sinusoidal oscillator at P and running over a support at Q, is stretched by a block of mass m. Separation L 1.4 m, linear density = 0.9 g/m, and the oscillator frequency f= 130 Hz. The amplitude of the motion at P is small enough for that point to be considered a node. A node also exists at Q (a) What mass m allows the oscillator to set up the fourth harmonic on the string? (b) What standing wave mode, if any, can be set up if m-2 kg (Give 0 if the mass cannot set up a standing wave)? Oscillator P

Explanation / Answer

frequency f = 130 Hz

L =1.4 m

Linear density = 0.9g/m = 0.9*10^-3 Kg/m

(a)

n = 4

Mass m = (4 L^2 f^2 )/n^2 g          ---------------- (1)

           =0.760

(b)

Put m = 2 Kg in equation(1) then

           n = 6.08

But n must be an integer, so n = 6.08 is impossible.

Thus with m = 2 Kg, the oscillator can't form standing waves.

So mode = 0