2015 AP Physics 1 free response 5

Khan Academy
11 Apr 201612:01
EducationalLearning
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TLDRThe video script discusses a physics experiment involving strings attached to oscillators and blocks, with a focus on understanding the fundamental frequency and its relationship with the properties of the string, such as tension and mass density. It explains that the fundamental frequency is the lowest frequency that produces a standing wave in the string and that this frequency varies with different strings due to their unique linear mass densities. The script also explores the non-linear relationship between frequency and the inverse of linear mass density, and concludes with a discussion on identifying points of greatest average vertical speed when a string vibrates at its second harmonic.

Takeaways
  • πŸ“ˆ The fundamental frequency of a string is the lowest frequency that produces a standing wave.
  • 🎡 Standing waves on a string have specific wavelengths, with the fundamental frequency corresponding to a wavelength twice the string's length.
  • πŸŒ€ The velocity of a wave on a string is determined by the square root of the tension divided by the linear mass density of the string.
  • πŸ”„ For strings with the same tension and length, different fundamental frequencies imply different linear mass densities or masses.
  • πŸ“Š A graph of frequency versus the inverse of linear mass density is not linear due to the square root and reciprocal relationships involved.
  • 🌟 When a string vibrates at its second harmonic, the wavelength is equal to the length of the string,不同于 the fundamental frequency.
  • πŸš€ The parts of the string with the greatest average vertical speed during second harmonic vibrations are at 1/4 and 3/4 points along the string's length.
  • πŸ”§ Tension in the string is provided by the weight of the attached masses, assuming the masses and string lengths are the same for comparison.
  • πŸ“ The linear mass density (mass per unit length) affects how easily a string can be accelerated, and thus the wave velocity.
  • 🌈 As tension increases, wave velocity on the string increases, allowing for more effective wave transmission.
  • πŸ“‰ An increase in linear mass density results in a decrease in wave velocity due to increased inertia against acceleration.
Q & A
  • What is the fundamental frequency of a string?

    -The fundamental frequency of a string is the lowest frequency at which a standing wave can be produced in the string.

  • What does a standing wave look like at the fundamental frequency?

    -At the fundamental frequency, a standing wave in a string looks like a single half-wavelength, with the ends of the string remaining stationary and the center point moving the most.

  • How does the mass of the objects attached to the strings affect the fundamental frequency?

    -The mass of the objects affects the fundamental frequency because it contributes to the linear mass density of the string system. Higher mass per unit length results in a higher inertia, leading to a lower fundamental frequency.

  • What is the relationship between the tension in the string and the wave velocity?

    -The wave velocity on a string is directly proportional to the square root of the tension in the string. Higher tension leads to increased wave velocity.

  • Why do the four strings in the setup have different fundamental frequencies?

    -The four strings have different fundamental frequencies because they have different linear mass densities, which is due to the different masses attached to them, given that all other variables affecting the fundamental frequency are the same.

  • What is the equation for the velocity of a wave on a string?

    -The equation for the velocity (v) of a wave on a string is given by v = √(T/m)/L, where T is the tension of the string, m is the mass per unit length (linear mass density), and L is the length of the string.

  • How would the graph of frequency as a function of the inverse of linear mass density appear?

    -The graph of frequency as a function of the inverse of linear mass density would not be linear. It would involve a square root and a reciprocal relationship, making the graph non-linear.

  • What is the second harmonic in the context of string vibration?

    -The second harmonic is the next highest frequency at which a string can vibrate to produce a standing wave. Unlike the fundamental frequency (first harmonic), the wavelength of the second harmonic is equal to the length of the string, resulting in four points of maximum movement at 1/4 and 3/4 of the string's length.

  • Why do the points at 1/4 and 3/4 of the string's length move the most during the second harmonic?

    -During the second harmonic, the points at 1/4 and 3/4 of the string's length move the most because these are the antinodes of the standing wave, where the wave amplitude is the greatest.

  • How does changing the frequency of the oscillator connected to a string affect the string's vibration mode?

    -Changing the frequency of the oscillator connected to a string can cause the string to vibrate at different harmonics or overtones. If the frequency is adjusted to make the string vibrate at its second harmonic, the string will produce a standing wave with a wavelength equal to its length, with maximum movement at the 1/4 and 3/4 points.

  • What is the significance of understanding the relationship between wave velocity, frequency, and wavelength?

    -Understanding the relationship between wave velocity, frequency, and wavelength is crucial for analyzing wave behavior in various physical systems, such as string instruments or seismic wave propagation. It helps in predicting how changes in one variable will affect the others and is fundamental to the study of wave physics.

Outlines
00:00
🎡 Fundamental Frequencies and String Vibrations

This paragraph introduces a physics problem involving a string attached to an oscillator and a block. The string passes over a massless pulley with negligible friction. Four such systems are set up side-by-side, each with the same distance between the oscillator and pulley, and the same mass block providing tension. The oscillators are adjusted to vibrate the strings at their fundamental frequency, which is the lowest frequency to produce a standing wave in the string. The fundamental frequency is further explained as the frequency that produces a standing wave with the longest wavelength possible. The paragraph also discusses the equation for the velocity of a wave on a string, which depends on the tension of the string, the mass per unit length, and the length of the string. The differences in fundamental frequencies among the four strings are attributed to different linear mass densities, implying different masses since all other variables are kept constant.

05:02
πŸ“ˆ The Relationship Between Frequency and Linear Mass Density

This paragraph delves into the relationship between the fundamental frequency of a string's vibration and its linear mass density. It explains that the fundamental frequency is calculated by dividing the velocity of the wave by twice the length of the string. The velocity of the wave is determined by the square root of the tension of the string divided by the linear mass density. Since all strings have the same tension and length, the only variable that can cause different fundamental frequencies is the mass per unit length, indicating different masses for each string. The paragraph then discusses a student's graph of frequency as a function of the inverse of linear mass density, concluding that the graph will not be linear due to the presence of a square root and a reciprocal in the relationship.

10:04
πŸŒ€ Identifying Points of Greatest Average Vertical Speed on a Vibrating String

In this paragraph, the focus is on the second harmonic of string D, which vibrates at a higher frequency than the fundamental. The second harmonic is characterized by a wavelength equal to the length of the string, as opposed to twice the length in the fundamental frequency. The points on the string that have the greatest average vertical speed during this second harmonic vibration are identified as the quarter and three-quarter points along the length of the string. These points are where the string moves the most, while the midpoint of the string barely moves, as it is part of the standing wave pattern.

Mindmap
Keywords
πŸ’‘String
In the context of the video, a string refers to a physical object that is used in a mechanical system to transmit force or motion. It is attached at one end to an oscillator and at the other end to a block, forming part of a system that demonstrates wave motion and vibration. The string's properties, such as its tension and length, directly influence the behavior of the waves it transmits, and are crucial in determining the fundamental frequency of vibration.
πŸ’‘Oscillator
An oscillator is a device that generates a periodic signal, such as a wave, by vibrating at a specific frequency. In the video, oscillators are used to vibrate the strings at their fundamental frequency, which is the lowest frequency at which a standing wave can be produced in the string. The oscillator's function is to provide the driving force for the wave motion observed in the strings.
πŸ’‘Massless Pulley
A massless pulley is a theoretical construct used in physics problems to represent a pulley with no mass and negligible friction, which means it does not affect the motion of the system by its own weight or resistance. In the video, the massless pulley allows the string to pass over it without any loss of energy or change in the string's motion, simplifying the analysis of the system's dynamics.
πŸ’‘Fundamental Frequency
The fundamental frequency is the lowest natural frequency at which an object or system can vibrate. In the context of the video, it refers to the lowest frequency at which a standing wave can be formed in the string, with the string being half a wavelength. This frequency is determined by the physical properties of the string, such as its length, tension, and mass per unit length.
πŸ’‘Standing Wave
A standing wave is a wave pattern that appears to stand still in space. It is formed by the superposition of a wave traveling in one direction and its reflection traveling in the opposite direction. In the video, the standing wave is created in the string when it vibrates at its fundamental frequency, with the wave's nodes and antinodes being points of maximum and minimum displacement, respectively.
πŸ’‘Wave Velocity
Wave velocity is the speed at which a wave or disturbance travels through a medium. In the video, the velocity of a wave on a string is determined by the square root of the tension in the string divided by the linear mass density of the string. This relationship is crucial for understanding how changes in the string's tension or mass per unit length affect the speed at which waves travel along the string.
πŸ’‘Tension
Tension is a force that is transmitted through a string, rope, or other similar objects when they are pulled tight. In the video, tension in the string is caused by the weight of the blocks and is a key factor in determining the wave velocity and the fundamental frequency of the string's vibration. The tension ensures that the string can transmit the oscillator's vibrations effectively.
πŸ’‘Linear Mass Density
Linear mass density is the mass of a material per unit length, and it is a crucial parameter in determining the wave velocity on a string. In the context of the video, a higher linear mass density results in a slower wave velocity because it represents a greater inertia that resists acceleration.
πŸ’‘Second Harmonic
The second harmonic refers to the next highest frequency at which a system can vibrate after the fundamental frequency. In the context of the video, when the oscillator connected to string D is adjusted to make the string vibrate at its second harmonic, the wavelength of the standing wave becomes equal to the length of the string, resulting in a different pattern of vibration with nodes and antinodes at 1/4 and 3/4 of the string's length.
πŸ’‘Graph
In the context of the video, a graph is a visual representation of data or functions, used to illustrate relationships between variables. The video discusses the possibility of a student graphing the relationship between frequency and the inverse of linear mass density, which would not result in a linear graph due to the square root and reciprocal functions involved.
πŸ’‘Harmonic
A harmonic is a multiple of a fundamental frequency at which a system can vibrate. In the video, the first harmonic corresponds to the fundamental frequency, while the second harmonic is the next highest frequency. The harmonics are important in understanding the patterns of vibration and the behavior of waves in the string.
Highlights

The figure above describes a system of a string attached to an oscillator and a block, with a massless pulley in the middle.

Four identical setups are shown in the diagram, each with a different fundamental frequency.

The fundamental frequency is the lowest frequency that produces a standing wave in the string.

The standing wave at the fundamental frequency has the string as half a wavelength.

The equation for the velocity of a wave on a string is given, relating tension, mass per unit length, and wave velocity.

An increase in tension results in an increase in wave velocity.

A larger mass per unit length results in a slower wave velocity.

The fundamental frequency is determined by the wave velocity divided by twice the length of the string.

The different fundamental frequencies imply different linear mass densities among the strings.

The graph of frequency as a function of the inverse of linear mass density is not linear due to the square root and reciprocal relationships.

The second harmonic of the string vibrates with a wavelength equal to the length of the string.

At the second harmonic, the points 1/4 and 3/4 of the way along the string have the greatest average vertical speed.

The center of the string at the fundamental frequency moves the most, while at the second harmonic, it moves very little.

The system demonstrates the relationship between physical properties of the string and the resulting vibration frequencies.

Understanding the fundamental frequency and harmonics is crucial for analyzing wave behavior in strings.

The mass of the blocks provides the tension in the strings, which is a key factor in determining the vibration frequencies.

The oscillators are adjusted to vibrate the strings at their respective fundamental frequencies.

The problem explores the concept of standing waves and their dependence on the physical properties of the medium.

Transcripts
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