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    Waves - Slinky Wave Lab 2018 Advanced

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    Waves - Slinky Wave Lab 2018 Advanced

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    Science

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    Waves- Slinky Wave Lab 2018 Advanced

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    Waves - Slinky Wave Lab 2018 Advanced

    Uploaded by

    8pd88cndg8
    Science

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 4

    Advanced - Slinky Wave Lab

    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 partner’s 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. In your own words, explain the difference between a compressional and


    transverse wave.

    2. Label the diagrams below with the appropriate wave type.

    3. Identify the parts of the wave below

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

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

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

    6. How would you explain the relationship between wavelength and frequency?

    7. Are the waves created in step 5 transverse or longitudinal? Give evidence to


    support your reasoning.

    8. Are the waves created in step 6 transverse or longitudinal? Give evidence to


    support your reasoning.
    9. If the spring coils do not actually move from one end of the slinky to the other,
    then what is traveling through the slinky as the wave moves? Explain.

    10. Explain how amplitude and energy are related. Give evidence to support your
    reasoning.

    Discussion:

    1. Give examples of a transverse wave in a real-life situation:

    2. Give examples of a compressional wave on a real-life situation.

    Extension:

    1. USE BYOT to go to
    http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/waves/Lesson-1/Categories-of-Waves
    2. From the information gathered at this site, explain the propagation of an
    electromagnetic wave.

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