Past exam of the year 2 of the earth sciences (geology) course of the University of Oxford / 2025 / Paper 3 / 8 / a / Solution

Since tension is a force and ${\lambda }_0$ is a linear mass density,Thus $c$ has units $\mathrm{m}{\mathrm{s}}^{-1}$. It is the transverse wave speed of the ideal uniform string. The wave equation on a string assumes small transverse slopes, constant positive tension, positive uniform linear mass density, and negligible damping and bending stiffness.