Standing Waves
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| The standing wave apparatus |
| Abstract | An AC electric current is used to excite standing waves in a wire passed over a magnet.
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| Portable | Yes | |
| Principles Illustrated | The standing waves are the ones that "fit" on the wire of length L with nodes at both ends, having wavelengths given by  where n=1,2,3... While one can observe quite a few standing waves with the apparatus, the n=1 and the n=2 standing waves are the most visible. The apparatus allows students to explore the effects of changing the length of the wire, the linear mass density of the wire, and the tension in the wire. Note changing the tension and/or linear mass density changes the speed of waves on the wire as  where  is the linear mass density of the wire and T is the tension. Since  either the frequency or wavelength must change. Since the wavelength is fixed by the condition above it must be the frequency that changes. We use this as a demonstration apparatus and as a laboratory exercise apparatus. Guided enquiry works well with this experiment. For example, get students to find the first standing wave (n=1) and get them to predict the frequency of the n=2 standing wave. Ask them to predict the effect of doubling the mass used to tension to wire, and so on. We use a good simulation of standing waves along the the apparatus. See http://www.walter-fendt.de/ph14e/stwaverefl.htm. This is essentially an update of an ages old demonstration in which a mass is hung over a pulley on the end of a table, with the wire passing through a horseshoe magnet. See for example PIRA 3B.22.10. |
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| NCEA & Science Curriculum |
PHYS 3.3 |
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| Instructions |
If you want to build this yourself it is not difficult. You just need a sig gen, a rare earth magnet, some varnish insulated wire, and a few other bits. The standing wave resonances are quite sharp so adjust the frequency slowly. A stronger magnet works better, but they become dangerous.
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| Safety | Rare earth magnets can break fingers and do worse. Handle them carefully, particularly larger ones. |
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| Example Data |
Contact us if you would like to have example data.
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| Notes |
It is worth explaining to students that this is essentially an electric guitar in reverse.
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| References | PIRA 3B.22.10 |
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| Credits |
This teaching resource was developed with support from |
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| Copyright |