Here’s How to Crack It
- The fundamental frequency for a standing wave is given by the equation
f 1 = where v is the speed of a wave on the string and L is the length. The
length L doesn’t change here, so f 1 depends only on how v changes. We know
that the speed of a wave along a string decreases as the tension decreases
(look back at the equation preceding example); that is, v will decrease.
Therefore, f 1 will decrease, too.
- The fundamental wavelength is given by λ 1 = 2L. Since L doesn’t change,
neither will λ 1.
