A physics teacher uses a motorized mechanical vibrator to send transverse waves along a long tensioned elastic cord.
The frequency of the vibrator is set to 3.5 Hz.
Calculate the number of complete wave cycles produced in 12 seconds12\text{ seconds}12 seconds.
The teacher then increases the frequency of the mechanical vibrator. Describe what happens to the speed and the wavelength of the waves travelling along the cord.
A student says:
"When a wave travels along the elastic cord, the physical material of the cord itself is transported from the oscillator to the fixed support at the far end."
This description is incorrect. Write an improved and correct description of how the individual particles of the cord behave as the transverse wave passes.