Question

A steel cable on a bridge has a linear mass density of 15 kg/m. If the cable has been pulled taunt with a tension of 6,545 N, what is the speed of a wave on it?

Answer 1

The wave is a transverse wave. The formula for calculating the speed of transverse wave is expressed as

`\begin{gathered} v\text{ = }\sqrt[]{(T)/(\mu)} \\ \text{where} \\ T\text{ = tension }on\text{ the wire} \\ \mu\text{ = mass per unit length} \\ \text{From the information given, } \\ \mu\text{ = 15} \\ T\text{ = 6545} \\ v\text{ = }\sqrt[]{(6545)/(15)}\text{ =20.89} \end{gathered}`

Speed of wave = 20.89 m/s