You have a set of 14 metal weights strung together by nylon fishing line at equal intervals. Each has a weight of 0.20 N. You suspend this array from the ceiling and then observe waves travel up and down by shaking it. The wave seems to move more rapidly at the top, near weights 1-3. This is because
A) gravity is cancelled by tension, so net force is zero.
B) weight 14 is balanced by no other weight, but weight 1 is balance by 13 others below it.
C) there is more tension in the fishing line near weights 1-3 than down by weight 14.
D) the amount of mass per centimeter is higher toward the top, near weights 1-3.

Question

You have a set of 14 metal weights strung together by nylon fishing line at equal intervals. Each has a weight of 0.20 N. You suspend this array from the ceiling and then observe waves travel up and down by shaking it.  The wave seems to move more rapidly at the top, near weights 1-3. This is because
A) gravity is cancelled by tension, so net force is zero. 
B) weight 14 is balanced by no other weight, but weight 1 is balance by 13 others below it. 
C) there is more tension in the fishing line near weights 1-3 than down by weight 14. 
D) the amount of mass per centimeter is higher toward the top, near weights 1-3.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The tension in the fishing line is directly related to the speed of waves traveling through it. The tension is highest at the top of the array where there are fewer weights pulling down on the line. Therefore, the wave moves more rapidly at the top, near weights 1-3.

You Have a Set of 14 Metal Weights Strung Together