Waves Practicals ~ NO LESLIE CUBE

Ripple Tank

• You can create water waves at a certain frequency by using a signal generator attached to the dipper of a ripple tank.
• Dim the lights in the lab and turn the lamp on above the ripple tank. You should see the wave crests as shadows on the screen below the tank.
• The distance between the lines is one wavelength, and by measuring the distance between all 10 and dividing it by 10, we can find the average wave length. This is useful for finding the wavelength of moving or small waves
• You can now use the equation wave speed = wave length x frequency to calculate the speed of the waves
• This whole method allows you to measure wave length without disturbing the waves itself.
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Waves on Strings

• Set up the equipment as shown and turn on the signal generator and vibration transducer. The string will start ti vibrate
• Adjust the frequency of the signal generator until theres a clear wave on the string. The frequency needed will depend on the length between the transducer and the pulley, as well as the masses added.
• You need to measure the wave length of these waves. The best way to do this accurately is to measure 4 to 5 half wavelengths, and then find a mean, and double to find the length of a full wavelength
• The frequency of the wave is whatever the signal generator is set to, so plug the equation into the formula wave speed = wavelength x frequency.
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