Wave Properties Lab

Exploring waves virtual lab- Simple waves simulator

Objective

• to explore a few simple characteristics of waves traveling along a rope and sound waves traveling through air.

Review

• Wave: a disturbance caused by vibration that transfers energy through matter or space.

• Frequency: The number of complete cycles per one second.

• Amplitude: the distance from the rest position to the crest or to the trough

Multiple Choice

_________ is the distance from the rest position to the crest or to the trough

• Frequency

• Amplitude

• Period

Physics Simulation: Simple Wave Simulator

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Procedure

Part 1

Exploring waves on a rope

Then use the controls on the animation to answer the following questions.

Open Ended

1. There are three points on the rope that are colored red.

When you observe the motion of these points, you are observing particle motion - the motion of particles of the rope.

Describe the direction of these particles motion.

Multiple Choice

2. During any up-and-down cycle of the particle, does it move with a constant speed or with a changing speed?

• Constant speed

• Changing speed

One way to categorize waves is as being transverse waves or longitudinal

the waves traveling through the rope are transverse waves.

Multiple Choice

3. For transverse waves, compare:

the direction that the particles move

to

the direction that the wave moves.

Is parallel or perpendicular?

• Parallel

• Perpendicular

Multiple Choice

4. Set the animation to a low frequency (about 0.1 Hz) and observe the wave speed.

set the animation to a high frequency (about 1.2 Hz) and observe the wave speed.

Does changing the frequency value change the wave speed in this animation?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

5. Now change the amplitude and observe the wave speed.

Does a change in amplitude effect the wave speed?

• Yes

• No

Part 2

Exploring Sound Waves

Then use the controls on the animation to answer the following questions.

Open Ended

1. There are three points on on the air particles that are colored red.

When you observe the motion of these points, you are observing particle motion -the motion of particles of the air where sound travels through.

Describe the direction of these particles motion.

Multiple Choice

During any compression and rarefaction of the particle, does it move with a constant speed or with a changing speed?

• Constant Speed

• Changing Speed

One way to categorize waves is as being transverse waves or longitudinal

Sound waves are longitudinal waves.

Multiple Choice

3. For longitudinal waves, compare:

the direction that the particles move

to

the direction that the wave moves.

Is parallel or perpendicular?

• Parallel

• Perpendicular

Multiple Choice

4. Set the animation to a low frequency (about 0.1 Hz) and observe the wave speed.

set the animation to a high frequency (about 1.2 Hz) and observe the wave speed.

Does changing the frequency value change the wave speed in this animation?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

5. Now change the amplitude and observe the wave speed.

Does a change in amplitude effect the wave speed?

• Yes

• No

Conclusion.

Multiple Choice

1. For a transverse wave, the particles of the medium move ______ to the direction that the wave moves.

• Parallel

• Perpendicular

• Diagonal

Multiple Choice

2. For a longitudinal wave, the particles of the medium move ______ to the direction that the wave moves.

• Parallel

• Perpendicular

• Diagonal

Multiple Choice

3. Sound waves are _____.

• Transverse waves

• Longitudinal waves

• Can be both

Multiple Choice

4. Increasing the amplitude of sound waves changes the sound’s speed.

• True

• False

Exit ticket

Open Ended

1) What's one important thing you learned in class today?

2) What would help make today's lesson more effective?

3) Any questions?