A 30-cm long string, with one end clamped and the other free to move transversely, is vibrating in its second harmonic.The wavelength of the constituent traveling waves is:
A)10 cm
B)30 cm
C)40 cm
D)60 cm
E)120 cm

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The second harmonic means that there are two antinodes (points of maximum displacement) and one node (point of zero displacement) on the string. Therefore, the length of one wavelength is equal to twice the length of the string (since each full wavelength covers two antinodes and one node).

λ = 2L/2 = L = 30 cm

Thus, the wavelength of the constituent traveling waves is 30 cm.

A 30-Cm Long String, with One End Clamped and the Other