PRACTICAL: Measuring waves in a Solid (5 stages)

1) Attach a string or cord to a vibration generator and use a 200 gram (g) hanging mass and pulley to pull the string taut. Place a wooden bridge under the string near the pulley. 2) Switch on vibration generator and adjust the wooden bridge until stationary waves can be clearly observed 3) Measure the length of as many half wavelengths (loops) as possible, divide by the number of half wavelengths (loops) that you've measured. This is half the wavelength, doubling this gives the wavelength 4) The frequency is the frequency of the power supply 5) Calculate the speed of the waves using: wave speed = frequency × wavelength