INTERNATIONAL

COLLEGE
IB Diploma program

Physics Lab Report

Standing Waves Experiment

Candidate Number:

Omar Zeinelabidine

May 2015

Standing waves
Relevant IB Topic: 4.6 HL and 9.2 SL
In this IB lab you will be assessed using the following
criteria:
Data collection and Processing; Conclusion and Evaluation.
Aim:
In this experiment you have to find the relationship that exists
between the wave speed and the tension of a spring and to
determine the mass per unit length of the string in kg.m-1.
Apparatus:
Signal generator, vibrator, string, slotted masses, meter ruler,
pulley, and a ramp.
Diagram:
String
Signal generator

Pulley

Vibrator

Ramp

Weight
Method and data collection:
Adjust the frequency of the vibrator to 100 Hz.
Put a 40 g mass on the string and adjust the length of the string
until you get a set of standing waves (as shown in the diagram).
Record the frequency and the wavelength of the resonant standing
wave.
Repeat the above steps for different masses between 40g and 200g
(at least 6 trials).
Theory:
The speed of the wave in a string is given by the relation
T
v

where
is the tension in the string and is the mass per unit

T
length.
Data processing and presentation
Present the data you collect in an appropriate form.
Process the data collected to help you:
a- Verify the relationship between the tension in the string and the
speed of the wave.
b- Calculate the mass per unit length of the string in use through
graphical manipulation.

Write down all necessary details to reach a final answer.

Aim:

To calculate a strings mass per unit length (

strings velocity and tension.

in Kg.m-1 by using the

Materials:

Set of masses (10g, 20g, 40g, 50g, 100g)

2 meter ruler
A vibrator
A signal generator
Pulley
Desk (Ramp)

Variables:
Independent Variable

The mass used (m) in

Kg

Dependent Variable

The length of the string

(l) in meters

Controlled Variables

The location

The string

The frequency

The number of spindle

like patterns

The location is kept

constant so that there
is no variation in the
gravitational field
strength which might
affect the Tension
The same string is
used, since each string
has a different mass
per unit length, this
should remain
controlled
The frequency must
remain constant at 100
Hz. A change in
frequency will lead to a
change in velocity (v),
which will also have an
effect on the
experiment.
The only way to
calculate the
wavelengths is to have
a constant number of
spindle like patterns

Procedure:
1. Adjust the frequency of the vibrator to 100 Hz.
2. Record the mass and the length of the string provided on a
little piece of paper with the string. This will be used to
compare results from calculation and graphing with the actual
mass per unit length.
3. Place a 100 g mass on the end of the string, should be under
the pulley and not in contact with the ground.
4. Adjust the length of the string until 4 spindle like patterns
appear.
5. Record the length of the string using a 2m ruler (take the
beginning of the pulley as a reference for when the string
ends).
6. Calculate the tension of the string by using Newtons first law
(since mass is at rest) F =0. Hence 0=mg + T. Which
implies T=mg
7. Calculate the velocity of the wave by using the equation v= f
, where f is the frequency and is the wavelength. Each
spindle like pattern is half a wavelength hence there are two
wavelengths. To find one wavelength divide the length of the
string by two.
8. Using the equation
calculate the mass per unit length.
T
v

9. Take three trials for each mass by repeating the same steps
above.

10.
Repeat the same steps above using masses in between
100 and 200 grams. Take at least 6 masses for more accurate

results.
Figure One: A clear spindle like pattern.

Figure Two: Two spindle like patterns.

Data Collection:
For each mass a length was measured, three trials were taken for
each mass. An overall of 9 masses were taken and placed in the
table below.
Table One: Collected Data for Mass and Length
Mass (m)/g
Length of string (l) in cm 0.5 cm
0 g
Trial One
Trial Two
Trial Three
100
100.0
101.2
100.8
120
106.5
107.8
107.2
130
112.3
110.9
111.6
140
118.0
117.7
117.2
150
120.9
121.2
120.7
160
125.0
125.2
125.5
170
129.1
129.2
129.4
180
133.2
133.7
133.1
190
134.5
133.2
134.3
Remark: Since the masses used are fixed, then the uncertainty on
the mass is zero.

Data Processing:
The average of the three trials of the lengths must be taken for each
l +l +l
mass. This is can be calculated through the equation 1 2 3 .
3
the uncertainty can be calculating the difference between the
average the furthest value from it. SI units must also be taken
hence the grams should be converted to kg by dividing the value by
103, and the length should be divided by 102 to achieve a value in
meters (m).
After calculating place the values in a table.
Table Two: Masses and average lengths with uncertainty
Mass placed at end
Average length of
Average length of
of string (m)/kg
string (l)/cm
string (l)/m
0 .00 kg
0.10
100.7 0.7
1.007 0.007
0.12
107.2 0.7
1.072 0.007
0.13
111.6 0.7
1.116 0.007
0.14
117.6 0.4
1.176 0.004
0.15
120.9 0.3
1.209 0.003
0.16
125.2 0.3
1.252 0.003

0.2
0.17
129.2
1.292 0.002
0.18
133.3 0.4
1.333 0.004
0.19
134.0 0.8
1.340 0.008
Tension= mg (using Newtons first law) let g be 9.81 for more
accurate results.
V= f hence we need lambda which is the length of two spindle
like patterns. 2 wavelengths is equal to the length of string so
wavelength is half the length of string.
To calculate the uncertainty of the velocity we use the following
v f
=
+
formula:
v
f

The frequency has no uncertainty due to the equipment used.

So

v
=
v

hence

v=v

Sample for the first values at mass= 0.1kg:

m.s-1

0.004
) = 0.4
0.504
v=100 x 0.504

As shown, the value of the wavelength will cancel in the numerator

and denominator and we are left with 100 multiplied by the
uncertainty of the wavelength. Place the values in a table

Table Three: Values For Tension, Wavelength, and Velocity

Mass (m)/kg
Tension of string
Wavelength (
Velocity of
0 kg
(T)/kg.m.s-2
)/m with
wave (v)/m.s-1
0.00 kg.m.s-2
uncertainty
with
uncertainty
0.10
0.98
0.504 0.004
50.4 0.4
0.12
1.18
0.536 0.004
53.6 0.4
0.13
1.27
0.558 0.004
55.8 0.4
0.14
1.37
0.589 0.002
58.9 0.2
0.15
1.47
0.603 0.002
60.3 0.2
0.16
1.57
0.626 0.002
62.6 0.2

0.001
0.17
1.67
0.646
64.6 0.1
0.18
1.77
0.667 0.002
66.7 0.2
0.19
1.86
0.670 0.004
67.0 0.4
Since the equations states that

then we can square both

v

T
. We can plot V vs. T

and expect a non linear function to confirm the formula listed above.
sides and the formula will become v2 =

As shown there is a non-linear line which means the equation is

correct.
The Velocity must be squared hence the velocities are squared and
placed in a table.
To calculate the uncertainty of the velocity squared, using the first
trial as an example:
Let K= v2
k
v
=2
Then
k
v
Example:

0.4
50.4
)= 40.3.
2
k =2(50.4 )

Uncertainties should be used in one significant digit hence the value

above should become 40.
Place the values in a table
Table Four:Table of Tensions with the squares of the velocities
Tension of string Velocity of wave
Velocity squared (v2) in m.s-1 with
0 kg.m.s-2
(v) 0.5 m.s-1
uncertainty

0.98
1.18
1.27
1.37
1.47
1.57
1.67
1.77
1.86

50.4
53.6
55.8
58.9
60.3
62.6
64.6
66.7
67.0

Value

Uncertainty

2540
2873
3114
3469
3636
3919
4173
4449
4489

40
40
40
20
20
30
10
30
50

T
we can rearrange and

isolate the mass per unit length and the obtained equation would be
T
= 2 Since we have 9 different Tensions and velocities then there
V
shall be 9 mass per unit lengths, the values were placed in a table.
Using the formula given above: v2=

Table Five: Results for mass per unit length

1
3.86 x 10-4 kg.m-1
2
4.10 x 10-4 kg.m-1
3
4.10 x 10-4 kg.m-1
4
3.96 x 10-4 kg.m-1
5
4.05 x 10-4 kg.m-1
6
4.01 x 10-4 kg.m-1
7
4.00 x 10-4 kg.m-1
8
3.98 x 10-4 kg.m-1
9
4.14 x 10-4 kg.m-1
To find the final mass per unit length we must find the average of
the 9 values by adding them and dividing the value by 9.
(3.86+4.10+4.10+3.96+4.05+4.01+4.00+3.98+4.14)(10-4) = 4.02
x 10-4
The uncertainty is the value furthest away from the average then
subtracted by the average. Hence the value is 0.14 x10-4
The final value for the mass per unit length of the string is: (4.0
0.1 ) 10-4 kg.m-1

Graphing:
T
mg
we can expand it into 2 f 2 =
,

this since =0.5 l then the formula can be rearranged into 4mg=
4g
)m
l 2 f 2 , since we isolate the dependent variable then l2= (
f2
for the slope to have the mass per unit length in it.
Using the formula v2 =

We must square the length of the string, and find its uncertainty.
To find its uncertainty: let z= (l)2
Then

z
l
=2
z
l

For example:

z=(1.007)(1.007)(2)

=0.01 m
( 0.007
1.007 )

Repeat for the other lengths and place the values in a table

Table Six: Table of mass and the length squared

Mass used
(m)/kg 0
kg

Length of
string (l)/m
with
uncertainty

0.10

1.007
0.007
1.072
0.007
1.116
0.007
1.176
0.004
1.209
0.003
1.252
0.003
1.292
0.002
1.333
0.004
1.340
0.008

0.12
0.13
0.14
0.15
0.16
0.17
0.18
0.19

The length (l)2/m2 with uncertainty

Value
Uncertainty

1.01

0.01

1.15

0.02

1.25

0.02

1.39

0.01

1.45

0.01

1.57

0.01

1.67

0.01

1.78

0.01

1.80

0.02

Plot the values in a graph with the length as the dependent on the
y-axis and the mass on the x-axis as the independent.

Length Squared (l2) vs. Mass (m)

2

1.8

f(x) = 12.82x
38.5x - +
2.83
0.02

f(x) = 9.45x + 0.04

1.6

1.4

1.2

Length (l2)/ m2

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0.08 0.1 0.12 0.14 0.16 0.18 0.2

Mass (m)/ kg

The slope is 9.453 which is equal to

Then 9.453 f2
=

4g
2
f

= 4g

4 x 9.81
10000 x 9.453

= 4.15 x10-4 kg.m-1

Using the maximum slope and repeating the step above the
calculated mass per unit length is 4.07 x 10-4 kg.m-1
Using the minimum slope and repeating the step above the
calculated mass per unit length is 4.59 x 10-4 kg.m-1
Uncertainty is the (maximum value minimum value)/2 = 0.5 x 10-4

Hence the final value is= (4.2

0.5 )(10-4) kg.m-1

Conclusion:
There were very few mistakes in this experiment due to a very small
uncertainty in the length squares. The recorded mass per unit
length recorded in the lab was 0.84x10-3kg 2m = 4.2 x 10-4,
which was very close to, the achieved values from both the
calculation and the graphing points of view. Gladly both results are
accurate and precise which shows how well the experiment was
carried out without many errors. However errors can always exist
and must be listed.
4.24.0
x100=5% uncertainty to the real
4.2
value, which displays the accuracy.
The uncertainty was

Possible errors:

Miscalculating some values

Reading from the incorrect places on ramp
4 standing waves were not fully evident
Mistake in procedure
Rounding in incorrect places
Incorrect Gravitational field strength is used

Possible improvements:

Take more values

Take more trials
Ask teacher to confirm procedure
Find out the exact value of the gravitational field strength
before starting the experiment