Question

1. What is a wave? How is wave speed related to frequency and wavelength? How is the period of oscillation related to the wave speed? 2. How does superposition produce interference between two waves? What are nodes and antinodes? What causes them in the standing wave pattern? 3. Stringed musical instruments, such as "fiddles" and banjos, used stretched strings. Explain (a) how tightening and loosening the strings tune them to their designated pitch or frequency; (b) why the strings of lower tones are thicker or heavier; (c) why notes of higher pitch or frequency are produced when the fingers are placed on the strings pressing the string against a fret

Answer 1

A wave consists of oscillator that move without carrying matter with them but transferring energy. Waves are of two types: a) Mechanical waves: which require medium for transmission. b) Electromagnetic waves: which does not require any material medium for transferring. Frequency of a wave is the number of times a wave rest passes through a point in one second. The number of wave crests passing a point per one second depends upon the wave length of the wave. The wave speed is the property of the medium Hence, frequency is longer for a shorter wavelength Hence, the three are related as follows: gamma = c/lambda where gamma = frequency c = wave velocity lambda = wave length The speed at which the wave pattern repeats is called wave speed. The taken between one wave and the next wave passing through the same point is called period of oscillation.