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    WavesLabEditable 1

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    annaliesehatton3011
    This lab activity involves students creating and measuring transverse and compression waves in a spring. Students will time how long it takes waves of each type to travel the length of a spring, then calculate and compare the average speeds. They will also analyze and compare the movement of energy and the medium for each wave type.

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    WavesLabEditable 1

    Uploaded by

    annaliesehatton3011
    11 views2 pages
    This lab activity involves students creating and measuring transverse and compression waves in a spring. Students will time how long it takes waves of each type to travel the length of a spring, then calculate and compare the average speeds. They will also analyze and compare the movement of energy and the medium for each wave type.

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    WavesLabEditable-1

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    This lab activity involves students creating and measuring transverse and compression waves in a spring. Students will time how long it takes waves of each type to travel the length of a spring, then calculate and compare the average speeds. They will also analyze and compare the movement of energy and the medium for each wave type.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    11 views2 pages

    WavesLabEditable 1

    Uploaded by

    annaliesehatton3011
    This lab activity involves students creating and measuring transverse and compression waves in a spring. Students will time how long it takes waves of each type to travel the length of a spring, then calculate and compare the average speeds. They will also analyze and compare the movement of energy and the medium for each wave type.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    Compression and Transverse Waves – Spring Lab

    Learning Target:
    All waves have certain measurable characteristics such as speed, wavelength, frequency, and amplitude. Even
    though there are similarities, waves can have properties that make them different.
    In this activity, you will create two different types of waves and determine the rate at which each wave moves,
    otherwise known as wave speed.

    Materials:
    Spring Stop watch (you may use your cell phone)
    Meter stick (each tile on the floor is ~1 foot) Pencil
    Groups of 3 people

    Procedure:
    1. You and your partner should hold opposite ends of the spring. The spring must stay on the ground. Do
    NOT pick it up or you will be dismissed from the lab! Do NOT twist the spring; you will ruin it.
    2. Stretch the spring until it is taut (tightly drawn; tense; not slack.)
    3. Have another partner measure the length of the stretched spring. Record this measurement on the data
    table.
    4. Create a transverse wave by gently wiping the spring up and down one time. Your partner will need to
    hold their end of the spring stiff and still.
    5. Have a partner time how long it takes for the wave to travel the length of the spring.
    6. Repeat step 4 and 5 five times and record your data in the table. Try to generate each wave with the
    same amount of energy.
    7. Use the spring to create a compression wave by holding the end of the spring and pushing it forward (try
    to use the same amount of force you use to create the transverse wave).
    8. Have a partner time how long it takes for the wave to travel the length of the spring.
    9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 five times and record your data in the table. Try to generate the same amount of
    energy each time.
    10. Calculate the average time for each type of wave. Record the data in the table.
    11. Calculate the speed of each type of wave.
    Data Table:
    Length of Spring (in meters):
    Trial Number Transverse Wave Compression Wave
    (Time in seconds) (Time in seconds)
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    Average

    Speed (v) = distance (d) / time (t)


    Average speed of transverse wave: _____________________
    Average speed of compression wave: ___________________
    Questions:
    1. Compare the movement of energy in a transverse wave to the movement of energy in a compression wave.

    2. Compare the movement of the medium (the spring) in a transverse wave versus the movement in a
    compression wave.

    3. Which type of wave moves faster? Why do you think there is a difference in wave speed?

    4. If you move the spring back and forth, or side to side, faster, more waves are created. Explain what happens
    to the frequency and wavelength of the spring as you move it faster.

    5. Draw a transverse wave below and label the following parts:


    a. Midline/equilibrium
    b. Wavelength
    c. Crest
    d. Trough
    e. Amplitude
    f. Height

    6. Draw a compression wave below and label the following parts:


    a. Compression
    b. Rarefaction

    7. Draw a transverse and compression wave and label the direction in which the energy flows and which way
    the medium flows.

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