Problem:
To find the tension in the strings of a bass guitar.
Hypothesis:
Using an oscilloscope, we have measured the frequency of the string wave, recording time between each wave to enable us to find the resulting tension. Tension is measured in newtons thus I believe the tension in the strings to be around 100-150 N (newtons).
StringTrialTime (sec)Mass (g)
10.0035
A20.003330.4193
30.0030
10.0024
B20.002217.846
30.0026
10.0016
C20.001811.497
30.0011
10.0010
D20.00115.763
30.0012
Length of Strings: 86.00 cm or .86 m
Data Analysis:
Equations used:
μ = m/l λ = 2l
f = 1/tT = v2μ
v = λ/t
String A:
Avg. time = (0.0035 + 0.0033 + 0.0030)/3 = 0.0033 s
F = 1/t
f = 1/0.0033 s = 306.748/s
λ = 2l
L= .86 m λ = 2 (.86) = 1.72 m
μ = m/l
μ= 0.0304193/0.86 = .035
v = λ/t
v= 1.72/ = 0.0033 = 521.21
T = v2μ
T= (521.21)2(0.035) = 9507.7N
StringTension Force (N)
E9507.7
A10581.3
D17619.9
G16380.5
Conclusion:
In this lab we were to find the tension that a guitar string feels when it is making sound. We found the frequency and the time that the string made and through some calculations found the tension. I grossly miscalculated the tension in the string because I hypothesized a tension of 150 N and calculated a force of a minimum of 9507.7 N and a maximum of 17619 N. Its just shows that the guitar strings are made to feel a lot of tension and very little can actually make it rip.
The Term Paper on The Guitar Strings Music Guitars
THE HISTORY OF THE GUITAR The guitar is a fretted, stringed instrument, and is a member of the lute family. It originated in Persia and reached Spain during the twelfth-century, where its versatility as both a solo and accompanying instrument were established. The theory of the guitar was discovered in the early centuries. They found that the sound of a bowstring could be enhanced by attaching a ...
The errors in this lab are few. We used an oscilloscope to find the period and frequency of the string. Also, a ruler was use to find the length of the string and an electronic balance was used to find the mass of the string. The errors that could have occurred were only the human error in reading the devices used to measure them.
This lab can be improved in various ways. First there has to be a better way of reading the oscilloscope. Also the lab should have another means of checking the tension in the strings, a dummy system to make sure the initial calculations were correct.
