A research group is given a long, flexible spring connected to a mechanical oscillator of unknown orientation. The oscillator is hidden inside an opaque enclosure, so observers cannot see the oscillator’s motion directly. Two motion sensors can be positioned at any points along the spring to record the displacement of the spring coils as a function of time. Your task is to devise a procedure that will allow the group to determine unambiguously whether the wave generated by the hidden oscillator is transverse or longitudinal.
(a) Describe in detail an experimental setup using the two motion sensors that will allow the researchers to gather the necessary data. Specify sensor positions and the type of data each sensor should record.
(b) Sketch or clearly describe the displacement–time graph you would expect a sensor at the midpoint of the spring to record if the unknown wave is transverse.
(c) Sketch or clearly describe the displacement–time graph you would expect the same sensor to record if the unknown wave is longitudinal.
(d) Explain how comparing the data sets obtained with your setup will enable the researchers to determine the wave type, and discuss at least one potential source of error and how it might be mitigated.