GOOD SATII physics question.

Test Preparation SAT Subject Test Preparation
1

<p>if you raise the tension in a guitar string, the frequency changes but the wavelength does not change. WHY?!</p>

2

<p>It should be clear that if you tighten a string, then you increase the velocity at which waves travel through it. In the process, you are never affecting the displacement between two troughs (or two crests) or in other words the wavelength of the string... If that doesn't sound right to you, then maybe this formula will clear up the situation,</p>

<p>f = (n/(2L))*SQRT (T/m)</p>

<p>f = frequency
n=harmonic no.
T= tension
L = length
m = mass per unit length</p>

<p>That follows on to say that</p>

<p>f (is proportional to) T</p>

<p>But f=v/w (w=wavelength) and w is a constant because we are not changing the distance between minumums (or maximums)...</p>

3

<p>Plus... the frequency/wavelength proportionality only applies to c. Gotta love relativity.</p>

4

<p>wait here u guys, i gotta response to make. thx so much</p>

5

<p>i thought the wavespeed stays the same because wavespeed depends on the medium and the medium is same.</p>

6

<p>dude i'm confused</p>

<p>wavelength = 1/frequency</p>

<p>ANDDDD</p>

<p>frequency = 1/ period</p>

<p>period = wavelength?</p>

7

<p>Frequency is what doesn't change in a constant medium... But you are right in saying that the medium is the same in this case. However by tightening the string, you increase the frequency as the formula given above indicates.</p>

8

<p>f = frequency
T = period
w = wavelength
v = speed of sound</p>

<p>f=1/T
v=fw</p>

<p>Therefore,</p>

<p>T = w/v</p>

<p>No offense, but you should really be asking yourself what your teacher is teaching your class, because you shouldn't be mixing up such fundamentals in physics.</p>

9

<p>thxxxxxxxxxxxx.</p>

<p>my teacher's motto:
"i'm a guide on the side, not a sage on the stage"
...w tt f</p>

10

<p>Your teacher's motto should be the other way round... That is what you are paying him/her for after all.</p>

11

<p>very few students have the privillage of learning from a good physics teacher. in my physics class, if you want to pass, you better read through the text books on your own becuase he's not going to teach you anything. it shows up in our grade distibution lol.. either you get 90s or you get 60s.. onli about 3 people fall between these 2 ranges</p>