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    Wavelength and How It Compares To A Slinky

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    api-262586446
    This document describes an experiment using a slinky to study waves. Students will use a slinky to create and observe both longitudinal and transverse waves. By moving one end of the slinky back and forth or towards and away from their partner, students can study how the frequency, wavelength, and amplitude of waves change. The purpose is for students to learn the basic properties and types of waves.

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    Wavelength and How It Compares To A Slinky

    Uploaded by

    api-262586446
    672 views3 pages
    This document describes an experiment using a slinky to study waves. Students will use a slinky to create and observe both longitudinal and transverse waves. By moving one end of the slinky back and forth or towards and away from their partner, students can study how the frequency, wavelength, and amplitude of waves change. The purpose is for students to learn the basic properties and types of waves.

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    wavelength and how it compares to a slinky

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    This document describes an experiment using a slinky to study waves. Students will use a slinky to create and observe both longitudinal and transverse waves. By moving one end of the slinky back and forth or towards and away from their partner, students can study how the frequency, wavelength, and amplitude of waves change. The purpose is for students to learn the basic properties and types of waves.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    672 views3 pages

    Wavelength and How It Compares To A Slinky

    Uploaded by

    api-262586446
    This document describes an experiment using a slinky to study waves. Students will use a slinky to create and observe both longitudinal and transverse waves. By moving one end of the slinky back and forth or towards and away from their partner, students can study how the frequency, wavelength, and amplitude of waves change. The purpose is for students to learn the basic properties and types of waves.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    At a glance
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    The document discusses waves and how they can be demonstrated using a slinky. A slinky can show longitudinal and transverse waves and be used to study the characteristics of waves including frequency, wavelength, and amplitude.

    The three basic characteristics used to describe waves are: 1) Frequency, 2) Wavelength, and 3) Amplitude.

    The two basic types of waves that can be demonstrated using a slinky are longitudinal waves, where the particles move parallel to the direction of wave travel, and transverse waves, where the particles move perpendicular to the direction of wave travel.

    Wavelength using Slinky

    Background
    A wave can be described as an energy disturbance that travels through a medium from
    one location to another. Waves, simply put, are energy moving from one place to
    another. As the wave moves through the medium (water, slinky, air), energy is being
    passed from one particle to the next. Waves occur around us every day. Some common
    places we experience waves are in sound, light, water, and earthquakes.

    In addition to being a great toy, the Slinky is an excellent device for creating and studying
    waves. A slinky can easily demonstrate the two basic types of waves, longitudinal and
    transverse. In a longitudinal wave the particles move parallel to the direction the wave
    is moving. In a transverse wave the particles move at right angles to the direction of
    wave travel.

    There are three basic characteristics used to describe waves.


    1. Frequency The number of waves produced in a given time period. This is
    usually measured in waves per second called Hertz (Hz).
    2. Wavelength The length of a wave. This can be measured easily from crest to
    crest or from trough to trough.
    3. Amplitude The height or depth of a wave. The amount of energy carried by a
    wave is related to amplitude. A high energy wave is characterized by high
    amplitude; a low energy wave by low amplitude.
    Materials:
    Slinky, meter stick, pencil

    Purpose:
    The purpose of the lab is to study the types of waves and their properties using a
    slinky.

    Procedure:
    1. Select a lab partner and gather the lab materials.
    2. On a smooth floor, stretch the slinky out between you and your partner, to a length
    of about four meters. (Caution Do not over stretch the slinky!)
    3. Send a single wave to your partner (see below).

    4. Observe what happens to the wave when it reaches your partners end. Observe
    the reflected wave.

    5. Move one end of the slinky back and forth on the floor repeatedly (see diagram
    below). Observe what happens as you vary the rate at which your hand moves or
    vibrates.

    6. Next create a series of waves by moving your hand towards and away from your
    partner (see the diagram below). Observe this wave and how it travels.

    7. Answer the questions on the answer sheet.


    Slinky Wave Lab - Answer Sheet
    Questions:

    1. How is a wave different than sound?

    2. Label the diagrams as to which type of wave.

    3. Identify the parts of the wave below

    a.______________________
    b.______________________
    c.______________________
    d.______________________
    e.______________________

    4. What happens to the frequency of the waves when you increased the rate of
    vibration (how fast your hand moved back and forth).

    5. What happens to the wavelength when you decrease the rate of vibration (how
    fast your hand moved back and forth).

    6. What is the relationship between frequency and wavelength?

    7. Are the waves created in step 6 transverse or longitudinal?

    8. Are the waves created in step 4 transverse or longitudinal?

    9. For each wave produced did any of the spring coils actually travel from one end
    of the slinky to another?

    10. What travels when the slinky coils moved? What did travel?

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