College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
3B22.11 - Standing Waves in a String - Melde's Experiment
Assemble the apparatus as indicated. By varying the amount of mass or tension on the string you can get from 2 to 11 or 13 standing waves. In the constant diameter string these waves are all the same size. In the decreasing diameter (tapered) string the waves will be of different sizes. For instance there will be 3 waves on one half of the string vs. only 2 on the other half, instead of 3 on each half.
This is best seen in the classroom when set high enough to use the blackboards as background.
The reed vibrator in the above instructions may be replaced with the driven tuning fork if desired. 2 to 8 VDC of several amps will be needed to run the driven forks.
The Cenco 60 Hz. mechanical drivers also come with a version of the Melde's experiement using Aluminum, Steel, and Copper wires of different diameters which can easily be set up with any of the other mechanical drivers we have if desired.
- Peter Riggs, "Revisiting Standing Waves on a Circular Path", TPT, Vol. 59, #2, Feb. 2021, p. 100.
- G. Bozzo, F. de Sabata, S. Pistori, and F. Monti, "Imaging and Studying Standing Waves with a Homemade Melde-Type Apparatus and Information and Communication Technology (ICT)", TPT, Vol. 57, #9, Dec. 2019, p. 612-615.
- Dylan Welsch, and Blane Baker, "Wavelength Variation of a Standing Wave Along a Vertical Spring", TPT, Vol. 56, #3, Mar. 2018, p. 154.
- Cameron T. Vongsawad, Mark L. Berardi, Tracianne B. Neilsen, Kent L. Gee, Jennifer K. Whiting, and M. Jeannette Lawler, "Acoustics for the Deaf: Can You See Me Now?", TPT, Vol. 54, #6, Sept. 2016, p. 369.
- Paul Gluck, "Standing Waves in a Nonuniform Medium", TPT, Vol. 49, #2, Feb. 2011, p. 76.
- John Welch, "Demonstrating Wavelength Dependency on Medium Density", TPT, Vol. 47, #7, Oct. 2009, p. 476.
- Ana Cros and Chantel Ferrer-Roca, "Excitation of Standing Waves by an Electric Toothbrush", TPT, Vol. 44, #9, Dec. 2006, p. 578.
- Haym Kruglak and Thomas B. Greenslade Jr., "From Our Files: Demonstrations with a Sabre-Saw Oscillator", TPT, Vol. 43, #7, Oct. 2005, p. 474.
- Christine Carmichael and Steven Smith, "Demonstration of Beats With A Double-Driven String", TPT, Vol. 42, #8, Nov. 2004, p. 462.
- David D. Lockhart and Thomas B. Greenslade Jr., "From Our Files: Standing Wave Generator", TPT, Vol. 41, #1, Jan. 2003, p. 54.
- James H. Larson, "Beats on a Vibrating String", TPT, Vol. 37, #6, Sept. 1999, p. 373.
- Mark Graham, "Melde's Experiment with an Aquarium Aerator. Rich Dynamics with Inexpensive Apparatus", TPT, Vol. 36, #5, May 1998, p. 276.
- Walter Connonny, John Abedschan, and Dick Speakman, "Laser- Enhanced Vibrating String", TPT, Vol. 29, #2, Feb. 1991, p. 114.
- Parshotam D. Gupta, "Coloration on a String Vibrating in a Standing Wave Pattern", TPT, Vol. 26, #6, Sept. 1988, p. 371.
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- Verner Jensen, "Standing Transverse Waves of Inhomogeneous Strings", TPT, Vol. 21, #1, Jan. 1983, p. 53.
- Sue Gray Al-Salam and Ronald B. Edge, "Why is the String Colored?", TPT, Vol. 18, #7, Oct. 1980, p. 518.
- Samuel Jacobs, "Can Standing Sound Waves Have Zero Amplitude Nodes?", TPT, Vol. 17, #7, Oct. 1979, p. 460.
- David D. Lockhart, "Standing Wave Generator", TPT, Vol. 9, #5, May 1971, p. 283, reprinted in TPT, Vol. 41, #1, Jan. 2003, p. 54.
- Haym Kruglak, "Demonstration with a Sabre - Saw Oscillator", TPT, Vol. 8, #2, Feb. 1970, p. 88, reprinted in TPT, Vol. 43, #7, Oct. 2005, p. 474.
- Marvin Ohriner, "Standing Waves by a Current Carrying Conductor", TPT, Vol. 5, #6, Sept. 1967, p. 287.
- "Problems: Energy Transfer in Vibrating Strings", TPT, Vol. 5, #4, Apr. 1967, p. 175.
- Timothy C. Molteno and Nicholas B. Tufillaro, "An Experimental Investigation Into the Dynamics of a String", AJP, Vol. 72, #9, Sept. 2004, p. 1157.
- Allan Walstad, "The Longitudinal Momentum of Transverse Traveling Waves on a String", AJP, Vol. 72, #7, July 2004, p. 971.
- David R. Rowland, "Parametric Resonance and Nonlinear String Vibrations", AJP, Vol. 72, #6, June 2004, p. 758.
- E. Kashy, D. A. Johnson, J. McIntyre, S. L. Wolfe, "Transverse Standing Waves in a String With Free Ends", AJP, Vol. 65, #4, Apr. 1997, p. 310.
- Donald E. Hall, "Optical Measurement of String Motion", AJP, Vol. 55, #6, June 1987, p. 573.
- John A. Elliot, "Nonlinear Resonance in Vibrating Strings", AJP, Vol. 50, #12, Dec. 1982, p. 1148.
- F. P. Clay Jr., and R. L. Kernell, "Standing Waves in a String Driven By Loudspeakers and Signal Generators", AJP, Vol. 50, #10, Oct. 1982, p. 910.
- Donald F. Kirwan and Jack Willis, "Direct Measurement of Transverse Wave Speed on a Stretched String", AJP, Vol. 43, #7, July 1975, p. 651.
- "W-120: Melde's String - Sonometer", DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.
- Freier and Anderson, "Sa-9, 10", A Demonstration Handbook for Physics.
- S-34, 35: Richard Manliffe Sutton, Demonstration Experiments in Physics.
- Martin C. Sagendorf, "Vibrations in a String", Physics Demonstration Apparatus, 2009. p. 74.
- A. D. Bulman, "Maintained Fork and Melde Arrangements", Model-Making for Physics, p. 59.
- Roger J. Hanson, Edited by Karl Mamola, "Optoelectronic Detection of String Vibration", Apparatus for Teaching Physics, p. 74.
- Jearl Walker, "1.183, Oscillating Car Antenna", The Flying Circus of Physics Ed. 2, p. 79.
- Charles Taylor, "Demonstration 3.2", The Art and Science of Lecture Demonstration, p. 111.
- Ron Hipschman, "Giant Guitar Spring", Exploratorium Cookbook III, 186.1 - 186.3.
- "Vibrating String", The Exploratorium Science Snackbook, p. 103-1.
- Ron Hipschman, "Vibrating String", Exploratorium Cookbook II, p. 116.1 - 116.2.
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