Pandemic Waves Lab

A: Tension and velocity:

  1. Go to https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/wave-on-a-string

  2. Click the play button to run the PHET

  3. Select "Pulse", "No End", on the top, "Normal" in the middle bottom, and move the slider for damping to "None" and the slider for "Tension" to "High"

  4. Click the green circle on the pulse device, and send a pulse down the string

  5. Move the slider for tension to "Low".

  6. Click the green circle on the pulse device, and send a pulse down the string

  7. Which is faster? (The high tension or the low)

B: Wavelength and frequency

  1. Go to https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/wave-on-a-string

  2. Click the play button to run the PHET

  3. Select "Oscillate", "No End", on the top, "Normal" in the middle bottom, and move the slider for damping to "None" and the slider for "Tension" to the middle. Have your amplitude at 0.75.

  4. Try varying the "Frequency" from 0.70 Hz to 3.00 Hz using the slider at the bottom.

  5. What is the relationship between frequency and wavelength? (As you increase frequency, what happens to the wavelength, as you decrease frequency, what happens?)

C: Reflections

  1. Go to https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/wave-on-a-string

  2. Click the play button to run the PHET

  3. Select "Pulse", "Fixed end", on the top, "Normal" in the middle bottom, and move the slider for damping to "None" and the slider for "Tension" to the middle.

  4. Click the green pulse button to send a pulse down the string. Watch as it reflects off of both fixed ends.

  5. What happens to the pulses as the reflect off the Fixed ends? (Do they reflect upright or inverted?)

  6. Click the "Restart" button at the top, and on the top right click "Loose End"

  7. Click the green pulse button to send a pulse down the string. Watch as it reflects off of the free end on the right.

  8. What happens to the pulses as the reflect off the loose (Free) end? (Do they reflect upright or inverted?)

D: Types of waves

  1. Watch this video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=7&v=_2HE4AlSE_s (Turn up the volume)

  2. Make those waves with a small slinky if you have one at home. : - (

  3. In your own words, write a definition of a longitudinal wave, and a transverse wave