A wire is strung tightly between two immovable posts. Decide whether the speed o

Question

A wire is strung tightly between two immovable posts. Decide whether the speed of a transverse wave on this wire would increase, decrease, or remain the same when the temperature increases. Ignore any change in the mass per unit length of the wire.

The answer in the back of my book says that the velocity of the transverse wave will decrease. But I am confused on exactly why an increase in temperature would cause a decrease in the tension on the wire. I thought it would increase the tension and therfore increase the velocity of the wave.

I'm looking for an explanation of why the tension in the wire decreases with an increase in temperature.

Explanation / Answer

The wave velocity will decrease. The velocity of a traveling wave on a string or wire is proportional to the square root of the tension in the string. Most materials expand when they are heated, so the the tension in the wire will decrease when wire is heated, and this will cause the wave velocity to decrease.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse A
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.