ABSTRACT

This task was carried out to determine the frequency of Copper and
Kanthal strings (wires). Both the Copper and Kanthal strings were made
to vibrate after they have been subjected to a constant Tensioning
force of 30 N and the string length was varied using the triangular
sliders along the meter rule. The strings were made to vibrate by gentle
tap with the rubber hammer and also the vibrations of the strings were
optically scanned midway between the triangular sliders. . The
frequency of both the copper and Kanthal wire when subjected to a 30
N force was calculated to be 0.162 0.162 kHz and
respectively and the frequency for these same wires were found to be
and

respectively when the

strings length were kept constant at 50 cm. The vibration process was
observed on the oscilloscope and it was found out that frequency
depended greatly on the string tension, string length, and density of the
material .It was found that the frequency of a vibrating string varied
with length, tensional force and material density such that, an increase
in string length caused a decrease in frequency, an increase in tensional
force caused an increase in frequency

INTRODUCTION
Many of the sounds we hear originate in vibrating strings or string-like
structures. Guitars and violins are examples of musical instruments
which employ vibrating strings. The vocal cords and other soundproducing parts found in many species of animals vibrate in a manner
very similar to that of strings. Some sounds in nature are the result of
wind-induced vibrations in the stems and other parts of plants. In this
experiment, a stretched string was held under a tension is positioned
between two fixed points separated and by perhaps two meters used
to find the dependency of the frequency of vibration on the length,
tension, and mass per unit length. The velocity of the wave along the
string is calculated from the frequency and the wavelength of the
vibrations.

PROCEDURE
The string is laid across 2 triangular sliders and clamped between a
fixed hook and a spring balance, as shown in Fig. 1.
The spring balance is attached to a string tensioner with fishing line.
The tensioning force should be no greater than 30-40 N (depending on
the material from which the string is made) as otherwise the string may
break. The string length can be set by moving the triangular sliders
along the measuring scale. If a piece of the string outside these sliders
vibrates as well it can be stopped by gently laying a finger on it (this
must not, however, alter the string tension). The vibration of the string
is optically scanned midway between the sliders.
The signal from the photo-cell, fitted with an aperture slit, is amplified
and transmitted to the oscilloscope and the counter/ timer.
A gentle tap with the rubber hammer is sufficient to start the string
vibrating. The counter/timer is only started once the harmonic shave
died away.
2

EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP

Oscilloscope
LF Amplifier

Digital Counter

Wire spools

Triangular slider

Filament lamp and lamp socket

Meter Rule

Fig.1 Diagram of experimental set-up for measuring the frequency of vibration of

strings.

THEORY
When the string component
is deflected from the rest position by
restoring force
is obtained from:

1
is the angle between the x axis and the

axis, so that:

the

The deflection may be so small that

3
From (2), therefore, we obtain:

4
5

And from (1)

The mass of the strings elements

..6
Where q= cross sectional area, =density of the material from which the string is
made.
From the equation of motion
.7
We obtain, with (5) and (6) the wave equation

..9

Is the propagation velocity of a transverse wave over the tensioned string.

The fundamental frequency of a string of length l, tensioned at both ends is

10
4

For constant F, q, and , taking logarithms of both sides to base 10,

OBSERVATION TABLE
For the Copper wire
Table 1:

Tensioning Force T=30 N

l/cm

f/kHz

Log l

Log f

60.0

0.075

1.778

1.879

55.0

0.195

1.740

2.290

50.0

0.216

1.699

2.334

45.0

0.237

1.653

2.375

40.0

0.260

1.602

2.415

Table 2: With a fixed string length l=50 cm

T/N

f/kHz

Log F

Log f

10

0.099

1.000

1.996

15

0.127

1.176

2.104

20

0.162

1.301

2.210

25

0.172

1.398

2.236

30

0.193

1.477

2.286

For the Kanthal wire

Table 3:

Tensioning Force T= 30 N

l/cm

f/kHz

log l

Log f

60.0

0.145

1.778

2.161

55.0

0.179

1.740

2.252

50.0

0.197

1.699

2.294

45.0

0.207

1.653

2.316

40.0

0.294

1.602

2.468

Table 4: With a fixed string length l=50 cm

6

T/N

f/kHz

Log T

Log f

10

0.159

1.000

2.201

15

0.258

1.176

2.412

20

0.310

1.301

2.491

25

0.359

1.398

2.555

30

0.399

1.474

2.601

GRAPHS

LOG T

3.5

2.5

1.5

0.5

0
1.58

1.6

1.62

1.64

1.66

1.68

1.7

1.72

1.74

1.76

1.78

1.8

LOG L

Fig. 2: A graph of log f against log l for copper at constant force of 30N

LOG F

2.35

2.3

2.25

2.2

2.15

2.1

2.05

1.95
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.2

1.4

1.6

LOG T

Fig. 3: A graph of log f against log T for copper at constant length of

50cm

LOG F

2.5

2.45

2.4

2.35

2.3

2.25

2.2

2.15

2.1
1.58

1.6

1.62

1.64

1.66

1.68

1.7

1.72

1.74

1.76

1.78

1.8

LOG L

Fig. 4: A graph of log f against log l for Kanthal wire at constant Tension
of 30N

10

2.65

LOG F

2.6

2.55

2.5

2.45

2.4

2.35

2.3

2.25

2.2

2.15
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.2

1.4

1.6

LOG T

Fig. 5: A graph of log f against log T for Kanthal at constant length of

50cn

11

CALCULATION
The slope of graph 1
The slope of graph 2
The slope of graph 3
The slope of graph 4
The frequency of the copper wire with diameter of 0.4mm at a constant
tensioning force of 30N
From Table 1,

The frequency of the copper wire with diameter of 0.4mm at a constant

string length of 50cm
From Table 2,

The frequency of the Kanthal wire with diameter of 0.4mm at a

constant tensioning force of 30N
12

The frequency of the Kanthal wire with diameter of 0.4mm at constant

string length of 50cm

ERROR ANALYSIS
Error for Copper wire with Fixed Tensioning force of 30N and varying
string length

/kHz

f/kHz
0.075

-0.0865

7.48

0.195

0.0335

1.12

0.216

0.0545

2.97

0.237

0.0755

5.70

0.260

0.0985

9.70

Error=

= 0.016 kHz
13

Error for Copper wire with fixed string length of 50cm and varying Force

/kHz

f/kHz
0.099

-0.0516

2.66

0.127

0.0236

5.57

0.162

0.0114

1.30

0.172

0.0214

0.46

0.193

0.0424

1.80

Error=

= 0.011 kHz

Error for Kanthal wire with constant force of 30N and varying lengths

/kHz

f/kHz
0.145

-0.0594

3.53

0.179

-0.0254

6.45

0.197

-0.0074

0.0548

0.207

0.0026

0.00676

0.294

0.0896

8.028

14

Error=

= 0.013 kHz

Error for Kanthal wire with constant string length of 50cm and varying
force

/kHz

f/kHz
0.159

-0.138

19.044

0.258

-0.039

1.521

0.310

0.013

0.169

0.359

0.062

3.844

0.399

0.102

10.404

Error=

= 0.019 kHz

15

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Base on the theory and the results from the graphs, It was found that
the frequency of a vibrating string depended on length and tensional
force, an increase in string length caused a decrease in frequency and
increase in tensional force caused an increase in frequency of the
vibration string. Therefore frequency is inversely proportional to the
string length. This also proves that Kanthal has a higher frequency at a
particular length and tensional force than copper.

CONCLUSION
The frequency of a vibrating string depends on the length, density and
the tensional force in the string. This is important in the creating of
musical instruments and other instruments that used vibrating strings.
It also help physicists in determine the type of string needed for a
particular frequency at a given length, density and tensional force. . The
frequency of both the copper and Kanthal wire when subjected to a 30N force
was calculated to be 0.162 0.162kHz and
respectively and
the frequency for these same wires were found to be
and
respectively when the strings length were kept constant at
50cm.We think these errors were encountered due to the insensitivity of the
filament bulb

REFERENCES
1. Nelkon M. and Parker P. (1970) Advance Level Physics, 3,589-590.
2. www.phywe.com
3. www.physics.sfasu.com
4.
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