Wave Simulation

Wave Simulations Name _______________Hr __
Google PHET and navigate to the waves in a string simulation. Or type in the following web site.
http://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/sims.php?sim=Wave_on_a_String
Click on Run Now. Adjust the settings on the simulation for zero damping, high tension, manual operation & no end.
Wiggle the left end up and down by moving the mouse vertically one time returning to the rest position.
1. Describe the wave.
2. How do the individual particles move compared to the motion of the pulse? Watch a green particle.
3. How does the size of the pulse (amplitude) compare to the amplitude of your original wiggle?
Change the settings to oscillate with a frequency of 30. Set the amplitude to 50, with zero damping and high tension.
4. How do the individual particles move in comparison to each other?
5. Pause the wave and sketch its appearance. Label your wave sketch for crest, trough, amplitude, and wavelength.
6. Click on the ruler and drag it so that the bottom of the ruler is lined up with the highest part of the wave (the crest). Use
the ruler to measure the distance between the crests (the wavelength). Wavelength = ________
7. What is the distance between the highest points of the wave?____ The lowest?____ Try measuring it from the middle.
How does the distance compare?
8. Try changing the frequency to 60. How does the wavelength compare to the wavelength with a frequency of 30?
___________
9. Change the amplitude to 75 and change frequency back to 30. Pause the wave again. Does this change the distance
between crests? Is the overall wavelength the same as before?
10. Next, adjust tension one notch down. Does this affect amplitude?____ Does this affect wavelength?_____
11. As tension goes down, what happens to the wavelength?______
12. Change to pulse, fixed end with zero dampening and high tension. Send a pulse and observe what happens to the
reflected wave. Sketch the pulse shape before and after the reflection with the fixed end.
13. Change to loose end and repeat. Sketch the pulse shape before and after the reflection with the loose end.
Go to this web site http://www.kettering.edu/~drussell/Demos/reflect/reflect.html Observe wave reflections from
boundaries. Look at the simulations of waves moving from high to low density. Observe and record observations of
phase, wavelength, amplitude and speed. Repeat these observations for a wave moving from low to high density.
High Density Low Density
Reflected Wave Phase Transmitted Wave Phase
Reflected Wave Amplitude Transmitted Wave Amplitude
Reflected Wavelength & Speed Transmitted Wavelength & Speed
Low Density High Density
Reflected Wave Phase Transmitted Wave Phase
Reflected Wave Amplitude Transmitted Wave Amplitude
Reflected Wavelength & Speed Transmitted Wavelength & Speed
Explain why they make sense based on your previous observations.
14. Next, adjust tension back to high, change it to a fixed end, pulse, and reset the wave. Send a pulse and when it has
traveled about half way to the end send a second. When the first pulse is on its way back and the second is moving
toward it pause the simulation and then step it while you observe the wave.
_____/\___ ____
\/
What happens when the two waves come in contact with each other? Sketch the wave that forms when they are
completely overlapped. This phenomenon is called interference. What happens to the wave?
15. Reset the wave, and change to a loose end. Send a pulse and when it has traveled about half way to the end send a
second. When the first pulse is on its way back and the second is moving toward it pause the simulation and then step it
while you observe the wave.
___/\ ____/\___
What happens when the waves collide? It may help to try and pause the wave when they touch. Sketch the wave that
forms when they meet.
16. When two pulses meet do they pass through each other or bounce off each other? To be sure send a pulse and reduce
the amplitude to 50% before you send a second pulse. Pause the animation and step through an interaction between the
two waves. What evidence do you have to support your answer?
Exit and go to this web site.

http://www.kettering.edu/~drussell/Demos/superposition/superposition.html
Observe the animations for constructive and destructive interference. Do these simulations confirm your earlier
observations?
Return to http://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/sims.php?sim=Wave_on_a_String
18. Reset the wave to oscillate, adjust amplitude to 100, change frequency to 30 and change dampening to 30. What
happens to the wave?
What do you think dampening means in terms of energy?
Exit the site and go to :

Http://www.kettering.edu/~drussell/Demos/waves/wavemotion.html
19. Compare the animations of transverse, longitudinal and water waves. How do the individual particles move in
contrast to the wave motion for each type of wave?

Wave Simulation

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Wave Simulations Name _____________Hr

11. As tension goes down, what happens to the wavelength?______

Exit and go to this web site.

What do you think dampening means in terms of energy?

Exit the site and go to :

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