A massless rod is suspended by two identical strings AB and CD of equal length. A block of mass m is suspended from point O such that BO is equal to 'x'. Further, it is observed that the frequency of 1st harmonic (fundamental frequency) in AB is equal to 2nd harmonic frequency in CD. Then, length of BO is
(A)L/5✓ Correct
(B)4L/5
(C)3L/4
(D)L/4
Answer: (A)
Solution
For a string of length ℓ under tension T with linear mass density μ, the fundamental frequency is f1=2ℓ1μT and the second harmonic is f2=ℓ1μT.
Given that the fundamental frequency in AB equals the second harmonic in CD:
2ℓ1μT1=ℓ1μT2
This gives T1=4T2.
For rotational equilibrium about the suspension point, taking moments: