Try the fastest way to create flashcards
Question

Two identical taut strings under the same tension  F\boldsymbol{~F} produce a note of the same fundamental frequency f0f_0 - The tension in one of them is now increased by a very small amount ΔF\Delta F. (a) If they are played together in their fundamental, show that the frequency of the beat produced is fbeat =f0(ΔF/2F)f_{\text {beat }}=f_0(\Delta F / 2 F). (b) Two identical violin strings, when in tune and stretched with the same tension, have a fundamental frequency of 440.0 Hz440.0 \mathrm{~Hz}. One of the strings is retuned by increasing its tension. When this is done, 1.51.5 beats per second are heard when both strings are plucked simultaneously at their centres. By what percentage was the string tension changed?

Solution

Verified
Answered 2 years ago
Answered 2 years ago
Step 1
1 of 6

Theoretical reminder

We know that the wavelength and frequency determine the speed of a wave. They are related by the following formula:

v=λf\begin{equation} v = \lambda \cdot f \end{equation}

The speed of a sound wave in guitar string is proportional to the force of tension in the string FF, and inversely proportional to the linear density (mass per unit of length, unit: kgm\frac{\text{kg}}{\text{m}}) of the string in the following way:

VFμ=FLm\begin{equation*} V \sim \sqrt{\frac{F}{\mu}} = \sqrt{\frac{F \cdot L}{m}} \tag{2} \end{equation*}

We know that when a standing wave is formed in a string the number of antinodes determines the harmonic of the wave. This gives us a result that the length of the string is equal to a integer number of wavelength halves, that is:

L=nλ2\begin{equation*} L = \frac{n \cdot \lambda}{2} \end{equation*}

Rearranging:

2L=nλλ=2Ln\begin{align*} & 2 \cdot L = n \cdot \lambda \\ & \lambda = \frac{2 \, L}{n} \tag{3} \end{align*}

From this we see that any wavelength lambda that fulfils this equation for an integer nn can produce a standing wave.

Beats are formed by the interfering of two frequencies that are played simultaneously.. They can be heard as a periodical change in loudness of the resulting sound. The frequency of a beat is the difference of the interfering frequencies:

fbeat=f1f2\begin{equation*} f_{\text{beat}} = \abs{f_1 - f_2} \tag{4} \end{equation*}

Create a free account to view solutions

Create a free account to view solutions

Recommended textbook solutions

Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics 4th Edition by Randall D. Knight

Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics

4th EditionISBN: 9780133942651 (8 more)Randall D. Knight
3,508 solutions
University Physics with Modern Physics 12th Edition by Hugh D. Young, Roger A. Freedman

University Physics with Modern Physics

12th EditionISBN: 9780321501219 (18 more)Hugh D. Young, Roger A. Freedman
7,310 solutions
Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences 3rd Edition by Mary L. Boas

Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences

3rd EditionISBN: 9780471198260 (1 more)Mary L. Boas
3,355 solutions
Fundamentals of Physics 10th Edition by David Halliday, Jearl Walker, Robert Resnick

Fundamentals of Physics

10th EditionISBN: 9781118230718 (3 more)David Halliday, Jearl Walker, Robert Resnick
8,971 solutions

More related questions

1/4

1/7