When the tension in a medium is altered, such as in the case of a stretched string or a taut membrane, it affects several properties of the wave that travels through it. Specifically, changing the tension in the medium affects the following aspects of the wave:
Wave Speed: The speed at which a wave propagates through a medium is influenced by the tension in that medium. In the case of a wave traveling along a stretched string, for example, increasing the tension increases the wave speed. This relationship is described by the wave equation, which states that the wave speed is proportional to the square root of the tension.
Wavelength: The wavelength of a wave is the distance between two consecutive points in the wave that are in phase. Altering the tension in the medium changes the wavelength of the wave. Increasing the tension generally leads to a decrease in the wavelength, while decreasing the tension results in an increase in wavelength.
Frequency: The frequency of a wave, which represents the number of complete oscillations of the wave that occur in a given time, is not directly affected by the tension in the medium. The frequency remains constant as long as the source of the wave remains unchanged. However, since the wave speed is influenced by tension, a change in tension can indirectly affect the perceived frequency of the wave.
Amplitude: The tension in the medium can also impact the amplitude of the wave. In some systems, such as a stretched string, increasing the tension leads to an increase in the amplitude of the resulting wave. This means that a higher tension can result in a greater displacement of particles in the medium, producing a more intense or louder sound.
Overall, changing the tension in the medium alters properties such as wave speed, wavelength, and amplitude, which, in turn, can affect how the wave propagates and how it is perceived.