Bin Contents: a clamp, a 50-gram mass hanger, a pulley/rod, a pendulum clamp, a wave generator, a mouse pad, an elastic cord, and a pair of wires. Not shown but included: a table clamp.

Obtain a function generator and AC adapter & cord – return when finished.

Obtain a stand – return when finished.

Attach the clamp to the table’s edge exactly as shown with the large knob down; we need the large knob down so it will not interfere. 

Attach the pulley/rod as shown; it should be low but not below the table’s edge.

Use the large clamp to hold the stand exactly as shown; you may need to shift this location as you change the string’s length.

Another view showing how to attach the large clamp.

Slide the pendulum clamp down the stand to the very bottom; ensure that the three knobs are vertical exactly as shown. We need this clamp to be at the very bottom of the stand.

We are using the elastic cord for these images; what follows is true of the string as well; tie one end of the string to the mass hanger.

Note – you will need the 500- and 200-gram masses from your drawer.

Loosen the three knobs on the pendulum clamp until the are free to rotate as shown – do not actually remove them as there is no need to do so.

Slide the string under the clamps as shown.

Another view depicting how to slide the string through the clamps.

Then, one by one, turn the clamps so that they fit into their original positions and tighten their knobs.

Repeat for the next.

Note – the pendulum clamp itself may have a tendency to rotate; this is not a problem that concerns us.

Once all three clamps have been returned to their original positions and clamped, with the string through them, the system will not slip. However, if the system starts to slip away, you are free to tie the excess string around the stand for support – this may be especially true for the very thin string!

Sit the wave generator onto the mouse pad and slide it under the string; the string must be inserted into the notch at the tip of the wave generator.

A side view of the system; note how the pendulum’s position assures us that there will be a ‘clamping’ force keeping the string inside the notch.

The tip is notched and the string needs to remain inside.

Power the function generator; the default values at startup are not ideal.

Adjust the voltage knob so that it reads 5.00 or grater Vp. Adjust the frequency knob so that it reads 10 Hz.

To help you adjust the frequency, use these left/right buttons to shift the underline that appears under the digits; the underline acts as the “cursor” so that the frequency knob adjusts the value starting at the digit that’s underlined.

Attach the wires from the red/black ports at the function generator to the wave generator.

Note – this is actually an AC signal; the wave generator’s ports are not color-coded; they are free to connect to either color.

Your red and black wires are free to go to any of the wave generator’s ports. 

The length of the string is exactly that distance from the wave generator’s notch to the top of the pulley. No other part of the string contains waves that concern us.

As a demo, the strobe light, if set to the wave generators frequency, will display a ‘freeze-framed’ image of the wave along the string. If the strobe flashes at any other frequency, the wave will appear to drift and oscillate.