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A wave pulse travels down a slinky. The mass of the slinky is m = 0.94 kg and is

ID: 2203040 • Letter: A

Question

A wave pulse travels down a slinky. The mass of the slinky is m = 0.94 kg and is initially stretched to a length L = 7.5 m. The wave pulse has an amplitude of A = 0.23 m and takes t = 0.412 s to travel down the stretched length of the slinky. The frequency of the wave pulse is f = 0.45 Hz. 1) What is the speed of the wave pulse? 2) What is the tension in the slinky? 3) What is the average speed of a piece of the slinky as a complete wave pulse passes? 4) What is the wavelength of the wave pulse? 5) Now the slinky is stretched to twice its length (but the total mass does not change). What is the new tension in the slinky? (assume the slinky acts as a spring that obeys Hooke

Explanation / Answer

The average transverse or longitudinal wave velocity over a complete cycle is zero.

Starting from the equilibrium point .. the first 1/2 cycle average velocity is zero ..

being two 1/4 cycle journeys in opposite directions (to travel back to the equilibrium position for the first time).
The magnitude of the velocity is the same (v) over each 1/4 cycle .. but in opposite directions each successive 1/4 .. +v + -v = 0 for each