EXPERIMENT – 1A

Aim of the experiment: To determine the frequency of AC mains using resonance produced by
Lorentz force on a stretched wire.

Apparatus required: A thin metal (conducting) wire on a sonometer with knife edges and a
measuring scale attached to it, horse-shoe magnet, weights with hanger, an ac step down
transformer, a rheostat, connecting wires.

Principle: The velocity of a wave on a stretched string is = √𝑇/𝜇

and its natural frequency, that also depends on its length is given by,
𝑛 𝑇
𝜈0 = √ (1)
2𝑙 𝜇

where,
𝑇 (= 𝑚𝑔) is the tension in the wire is the
𝜇 is the mass per unit length of the wire
𝑙 is the length of the wire between the two wedges
𝑛 is the mode of vibration (𝑛 = 1 for fundamental or first harmonic, 𝑛 = 2 for first overtone or
second harmonic)

Fig-1. The diagram showing the

experimental arrangement of a
current carrying wire under
tension, on a sonometer box
subject to a steady magnetic field.
 Fixed end

𝐹(𝑡) = 𝑙 𝐵 𝐼 sin (2𝜋𝜈𝑡)

Knife edge
𝑖(𝑡) = 𝐼 sin (𝜔𝑡)

AC source 𝐵

𝑛 𝑇
𝜈0 = ඨ
2𝑙 𝜇
Fig-2. The schematic diagram of an
alternating current carrying
conductor between two knife edges,
Knife edge subject to tension and steady
Pulley
magnetic field at right angles for the
determination of frequency of the
𝑇 current.

𝑚𝑔

If a current 𝑖 is made to pass through the wire and is also subjected to a steady magnetic field
acting at right angles to the length of the wire, then the segment of the wire experiences a force
(Lorentz force) in a direction perpendicular to its length and the magnetic field.
Let the current from an AC source be given by:
𝑖(𝑡) = 𝐼 sin (𝜔𝑎𝑐 𝑡) (2)
where, 𝐼 be the peak current, 𝜈𝑎𝑐 is the frequency and 𝜔𝑎𝑐 (= 2𝜋𝜈𝑎𝑐 ), is the cyclic
frequency of the current.
We know that the Lorentz force experienced by a current-element, 𝑖𝑑𝑙⃗ in a magnetic field 𝐵 ⃗⃗ is,
𝐹⃗ = 𝑖𝑑𝑙⃗ × 𝐵
⃗⃗ . (3)

If a wire of length 𝑙, carrying a sinusoidal current 𝑖(𝑡), is placed in a magnetic field that acts on it
perpendicularly to its length, then the force experienced by it may be written as
𝐹(𝑡) = 𝑙 𝐵 𝐼 𝑠𝑖𝑛 (𝜔𝑎𝑐 𝑡) (4)

or, 𝐹(𝑡) = 𝑙 𝐵 𝐼 𝑠𝑖𝑛 (2𝜋𝜈𝑎𝑐 𝑡). (5)

The segment of the wire within the magnetic field experiences this time varying force.
When the frequency of the force (on the wire segment within the pole pieces) matches the natural
frequency of the wire (between the two knife edges) then it starts resonating. At resonance we
can say that both the frequencies match. This fact, in turn, can be utilized to get the frequency of
the applied current using this method.

Procedure and Precautions

1. Make sure that the sonometer wire is straight, free of kinks. If not, straighten it before
starting the experiment.
2. Measure its weight on a sensitive digital balance and its length by placing it alongside the
edge of a table. Calculate the value of mass per unit length (μ), to be used in the
determination of frequency of ac.
3. Tie one end of the wire to a peg on the sonometer.
 4. Allow the wire to pass over the knife edges and the pulley at the other extreme end of the
sonometer. Make a loop at the end of the wire and suspend a weight hanger.
5. Now the wire is under tension. Bring a horse-shoe magnet near the center of the wire such
that a small segment of the wire lies between the two poles of the magnet and is
perpendicular to the field.
6. Take a power step-down transformer of nearly 6 to 12 V and connect it to ends of the wire
through a rheostat of 20 𝛺. Adjust the rheostat so that the wire doesn’t get overheated
(mild heating is normal, but even that would affect the results).
7. Now adjust the positions of the two knife edges keeping the magnet nearly at the center,
so that the wire is set into vibrations. Adjust carefully for maximum amplitude of
vibrations. Under this condition the wire is said to be in resonance, i.e., the natural
frequency of the length of wire between the knife edges matches with the Lorentz force
frequency.
8. Record your observations on the table.
9. Increase the load on the hanger in steps of 50g and repeat the process to record your
observations further. Ensure that the load on the hanger doesn’t keep oscillating.
10. Once you have acquired all the data and tabulated the same in your observation table, go
for calculations and get the results.

Observations
Mass per unit length of the metal wire 𝜇 = 0.015 𝑔 𝑐𝑚−1
Table – 1: Readings for the resonant length of the wire against the tension that it is subject to, for
the determination of the frequency of ac current flowing through it.

𝑚 𝑇 √𝑇 While moving the Position of knife edges length frequency (ν0 − ν̅0 )2
S No (g) (dyne) (dyne)½ knife edges (cm) 𝑙 (cm) ν0 (Hz)
1st 2nd
1 50 49000 221.0 Apart 40.6 58.6 18.0 50.1 0.0348
2 Close 40.0 57.3 17.3 52.1 3.3896
3 100 98000 313.0 Apart 37.2 62.8 25.6 49.9 0.1565
4 Close 36.5 61.5 25.0 51.1 0.6433
5 150 147000 383.4 Apart 34.5 65.8 31.3 50.0 0.0920
6 Close 34.8 66.8 32.0 48.9 1.9514
7 200 196000 442.7 Apart 30.1 66.3 36.2 49.9 0.1479
8 Close 31.4 67.2 35.8 50.5 0.0300
9 250 245000 495.0 Apart 28.5 68.9 40.4 50.0 0.0840
10 Close 27.4 67.0 39.6 51.0 0.5190
11 300 294000 542.0 Apart 25.2 69.8 44.6 49.6 0.4621
12 Close 24.0 68.1 44.1 50.2 0.0137
𝑛
ν̅0 = 50.3
∑(ν0 − ν̅0 )2
1
= 7.5244

Calculations
We calculate the frequency of ac applied across the wire using the equation:
𝑛 𝑇
𝜈0 = ඨ
2𝑙 𝜇

and the standard deviation and standard error using the following equations.

∑𝑛 ̅ 0 )2
1 (ν0 − ν
𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑑𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝜎 = √ = 0.83 𝐻𝑧
𝑛−1

∑𝑛 ̅ 0 )2
1 (ν0 − ν
𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 𝜎̅ = √ = 0.24 𝐻𝑧
𝑛(𝑛−1)
Graphical calculation:

1. We plot a graph of √𝑇 vs 𝑙

Using the slope of the plot of √𝑇 vs 𝑙 in the equation (for graphical calculation):
𝑛 √𝑇
𝜈0 = ( )
2√𝜇 𝑙
to obtain the frequency of ac, for 𝑛 = 1 or 2, as the case may be.

Results and discussion

The frequency of ac mains is experimentally determined to be 50.3 Hz, using resonance in a

stretched wire

𝜈0 = (50.3 ± 0.2) 𝐻𝑧
𝜈𝑠𝑡𝑑 − ν̅0
% 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = × 100 %
𝜈𝑠𝑡𝑑
Percentage error = 0.6 %

The frequency is determined using the present method to a fair degree of accuracy and precision.
The result being accurate suggests that the parameters involved therein, primarily, the masses
(put on the hanger) and the mass per unit length are exactly known. We could get a quite good
figure for standard error implies that the resonant length of the wire at various loads was
determined quite meticulously and sufficient number of trials were attempted.

Conclusion

This is an elegant method of determining the frequency of domestic ac supply. Conversely, it is

also possible to determine the mass per unit length of the metal wire with fair degree of accuracy
provided the frequency of AC is known. This method is not just limited to the frequency of ac
mains. Using this technique, it must be possible to determine frequencies within a fairly wide
range. This method can also be effectively used to determine the linear density of any other wire
of interest to us.
Questions for viva / quiz

1. What is the principle of this experiment?

2. Is the hollow sonometer box necessary for the experiment?
3. Can this experiment be carried out using a wire of a magnetic material? Scheme?
4. How would you estimate the maximum accuracy and precision of the arrangement?
5. What would you do to enhance the precision of the experiment?
6. How would you verify your result?
7. Is it a first order system or a second order system?
8. What is the velocity of wave on a stretched string?