A very long string is tied to a rigid wall at one end while the other end is attached to a simple harmonic oscillator. Which of the following can be changed by changing the frequency of the oscillator?
A) The speed of the waves traveling along the string.
B) The tension in the string.
C) The wavelength of the waves on the string.
D) All of the above.
E) None of the above.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The frequency of the oscillator is directly proportional to the frequency of the waves on the string, which determines the wavelength according to the equation λ = v/f, where λ is the wavelength, v is the speed of the waves, and f is the frequency. Therefore, changing the frequency of the oscillator will change the wavelength of the waves on the string, but it will not change the speed of the waves or the tension in the string.

A Very Long String Is Tied to a Rigid Wall