LD

Mechanics Physics
Wave mechanics Leaflets P1.6.3.2
Circularly polarized waves

Determining
the phase velocity
of circularly polarized thread waves
in the experiment setup
after Melde

Objects of the experiment

Generating standing, circularly polarized thread waves for various tension forces F, thread lengths s and thread
densities m*.
Determining the phase velocity c of thread waves as a function of the tension force F, the thread length s and
thread density m*.

Principles
The propagation speed of a wave in a medium is calculated force of this piece of thread. The result for the propagation
using d’Alembert’s wave equation. For an elastically tensioned speed is
thread, we compare e. g. the restoring force acting on a section
of the thread deflected from its resting position with the inertial c=

√ F
A⋅r
(F = tension force, A = thread cross-section, r = density of
the thread material)
respectively

c=

√ F
m∗
with m∗ =
m
s
(I)

Fig. 1 Arrangement for the experiment after Melde (m = mass of thread, s = thread length).
(a) Cam
In the experiment arrangement after Melde, standing, circularly
(b) Mounting point for thread length s = 0.35 m
(c) Mounting point for thread length s = 0.48 m polarized waves are generated in a thread with known length
(d) Deflection pulley s. The tension force F is varied until waves with the wavelength
(e) Holding arm 2s
(f) Dynamometer ln = (II)
n
n = number of oscillation nodes)
are obtained. The additional determination of the frequency f
using a stroboscope enables calculation of the propagation
speed according to the formula
c=l⋅f (III)
If the mass and the length of the thread are additionally
measured, it becomes possible to verify equation (I).
The stroboscope is recommended not only for measuring the
0506-Sel/Wit

frequency: when the standing thread wave is illuminated with

light flashes at a frequency approximating the excitation
frequency, the oscillations of the thread seem to slow down
and the circular polarization of the waves becomes visible in a
highly impressive manner.

Setting up and carrying out the experiment

Set up the experiment as shown in Fig. 1.

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P1.6.3.2 LD Physics Leaflets

b) The influence of thread length s and thread mass m:

Apparatus – Set up holding arm (e) of the vibrating thread apparatus at
position (b).
1 Vibrating thread apparatus . . . . . . . . . 401 03
1 Stroboscope, 220 V, 50 Hz . . . . . . . . . 451 28
– Attach thread 2.
1 School and lab balance . . . . . . . . . . . 315 05 – Measure the distance between cam (a) and the center of
1 Tape measure, 2 m . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311 77 the deflection pulley (d) (= thread length s) and write this
value in the experiment log.
– Switch on the motor of the apparatus.
– Determine the forces Fn and the frequencies f at which
standing waves with n = 1, 2, 3 and 4 anti nodes are formed.
– Switch off the motor.
– Measure the mass m0 and the length s0 of the thread.

c) Wavelength l and phase velocity c as a function

of the density m*:
Preparation:
– Set up the holding arm (e) of the vibrating thread apparatus
– Cut up the thread supplied with the apparatus into three at position (c).
pieces of different lengths: – Attach thread 3.
– Cut off a piece 0.65 m long as thread 1 for experiment – Switch on the motor.
part a. – Determine the forces Fn and the frequencies f at which
– Cut off a piece 0.50 m long as thread 2 for experiment standing waves with n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 antinodes are
part b. formed.
– Cut off a piece approx. 2.60 m long as thread 3, fold it over – Switch off the motor.
itself four times; entwine the thread pieces together and tie – Measure the mass m0 and the length s0 of the thread.
their ends.
Important: start each measurement with the completely deten-
sioned thread and vary the tension by slowly and carefully
moving holding arm (e). Measuring example
Tables 1 a, b, and c show the measurement results for experi-
ment parts a), b) and c).
a) Wavelength l and phase velocity c as a function
of the tension force F Table 1: Frequency f and tension force Fn for a standing wave
with n oscillation nodes
– Set up the holding arm (e) of the vibrating thread apparatus g
at position (c). a) Thread 1 with s = 0.48 m, m* = 0.43
m
– Tie one end of thread 1 to cam (a).
– Tie a loop in the other end and hang this on the dynamome- f F
n
ter (f). Hz N

– Measure the distance between cam (a) and the center of 1 47 0.875
the deflection pulley (d) (= thread length s) and write this 2 48 0.225
value in the experiment log. 3 48 0.1
4 48 0.05
– Switch on the motor of the apparatus.
5 48 0.025
– With the adjusting screw loosened, vary the force F by
changing the height of the holding arm (e) until a standing
wave of maximum amplitude with the wavelength l = 2 s g
b) Thread 2 with s = 0.35 m, m* = 0.43
is formed (one oscillation antinode). m
– Read off the corresponding force F1 and write this value in f F
the experiment log. n
Hz N
– By slowly and carefully varying the height of holding arm
1 47 0.5
(e), determine the forces Fn at which standing waves with 2 47 0.125
n = 2, 3, 4 and 5 antinodes are formed. 3 48 0.05
– For each standing wave, use the stroboscope to determine 4 48 0.025
the excitation frequency f. To do this, start from the maxi-
mum stroboscope frequency and slowly reduce the
g
frequency until a simple standing sinusoidal wave first c) Thread 3 with s = 0.48 m, m* = 1.74
becomes visible. m
– Write down the number n of nodes, the corresponding force n
f F
Fn and the frequency f in the experiment log. Hz N
– Switch off the motor. 2 46 0.92
– Untie the thread and measure the mass m0 and the length 3 47 0.425
m0 4 47 0.25
s0 of the thread so that the density m∗ = of the thread 5 47 0.15
s0
6 47 0.1
can be calculated.

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 LD Physics Leaflets P1.6.3.2

Evaluation and results The wavelengths ln calculated from the number of oscillation
nodes n according to equation (II) are given in Tables 2 a, b and
Table 2: Evaluation of the measurement results from Table 1 c. The tables also contain the phase velocities calculated using


√
g F
a) Thread 1 with s = 0.48 m, m* = 0.43 equation (III) as well as the expression . Fig. 2 shows
m m∗

n
l
m
c
m s−1
√m∗F the graph of 
√ m∗
F
. As the measured values lie with good

m s−1 approximation on a straight line through the origin with the

slope 1, this confirms equation (I).
1 0.96 45.1 45.1
2 0.48 23.0 22.8
3 0.32 15.4 15.2
4 0.24 11.5 10.8
5 0.19 9.1 7.6

g
b)Thread 2 with s = 0.35 m, m* = 0.43
m

n
l
m
c
m s−1
√m∗F
m s−1

1 0.70 32.9 34.1

2 0.35 16.5 17.0
3 0.23 11.0 10.8
4 0.18 8.6 7.6

g
c) Thread 3 with s = 0.48 m, m* = 1.74
m

n
l c
√m∗F

√
m m s−1 F
m s−1 Fig. 2 Graph of c = f( ).
m∗
2 0.48 22.1 23.1
Circles: data from Table 2 a
3 0.32 15.0 15.6
4 0.24 11.3 12.0
Triangles: data from Table 2 b
5 0.19 8.9 9.3
6 0.16 7.5 7.6
Squares: data from Table 2 c

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