Chapter 16, Problem 1CQ

To determine

Rank the speed of wave from largest to smallest

Answer to Problem 1CQ

Solution: Wave speed of all the wave is same as all three wave travel in same stretched string, therefore $v_a=v_b=v_c$.

Explanation of Solution

Given:

Figure of three wave pulses travel along the same stretched spring

Figure.1

Formula used:

The wave speed in the stretched string is given by the formula

$v=\sqrt{\frac{T}{\mu }}$

Here,

$T$ is the tension in the string

$\mu$ is linear mass density of string

Calculation:

The wave speed in the stretched string is given by the formula

$v=\sqrt{\frac{T}{\mu }}$

It’s clear from the above formula that the speed of the wave is only dependent upon the tension on the spring and linear mass density, since all the waves are travel in the same stretched string; therefore the speed of all the waves will be same.

Conclusion:

Wave speed of all the wave is same as all three wave travel in same stretched string, therefore $v_a=v_b=v_c$.