LAB 17

GIVEN: The videos Mechanical Waves

TASK: Analyze videos to determine the factors that affect the velocity of a wave.

GUIDING QUESTIONS:

• Select any combination of frequency, wavelength, and tension.
• Make measurements that allow you to determine the velocity of the wave.
• Select a parameter to vary. For example change either frequency, amplitude, or tension. Measure the speed again. Did the speed change?
• Devise a way to discover the pattern. What is the relationship between the parameter (frequency, amplitude, or tension) and the velocity of the wave?
• Make a plot of wavelength vs period without varying tension. What does the slope of this line represent?
• Predict what a graph of wavelength vs period would look like with a different tension. Can you predict the slope?

This set of videos shows transverse waves in a spring.

Here's how the waves are made:

• A laptop computer sends a sinusoidal signal to the amplifier
• A large subwoofer wiggles in response to a signal from the amplifier
• The aluminum rod attached to the subwoofer wiggles the spring
• This wiggling creates a series of waves that travel along the spring