Why the Highest Piano Notes Have Short Strings
The steel used for piano wire has a breaking (tensile) strength Pr of about 3*109N/m2 and a density ρ of 7800kg/m3.
1. What is the speed v of a wave traveling down such a wire if the wire is stretched to its breaking point? Express the speed of the wave numerically, in meters per second, to the nearest integer.
2. Imagine that the wire described in the problem introduction is used for the highest C on a piano (C8= 4000Hz ). If the wire is in tune when stretched to its breaking point, what must the vibrating length of the wire be? Express the length numerically, in centimeters, using three significant figures.