ripple tank

• What should you be able to do by the end of the video on using a ripple tank?

  Describe how to use a ripple tank to measure wavelength, frequency, and speed of water waves
• What is a ripple tank used for?

  • To observe the features of water waves
  • To measure wavelength, frequency, and speed of water waves
• What is the structure of a ripple tank?

  A shallow tray of water with a vibrating bar connected to a power pack
• How are waves created in a ripple tank?

  By the vibration of a bar connected to a power pack
• What is the purpose of the white paper below the ripple tank?

  To produce an image of the waves when light shines through the water
• How can you record the waves in a ripple tank for measurement?

  Using a mobile phone that allows playback at different speeds or freezing the image
• How do you measure the wavelength of the waves in a ripple tank?

  By placing a ruler on the paper and measuring the distance between one wave and ten waves further
• If 10 wavelengths equal 26 centimeters, what is the wavelength?

  $0.026 \text{ meters}$
• What is frequency in the context of water waves?

  The number of waves passing a point each second
• How can you accurately find the frequency of waves in a ripple tank?

  By counting the number of waves in 10 seconds and dividing by 10
• What was the total number of waves counted in 10 seconds in the example?

  24 waves
• What is the frequency if 24 waves pass in 10 seconds?

  $2.4 \text{ Hertz}$
• How do you determine the speed of water waves using wavelength and frequency?

  By using the wave equation: speed = frequency × wavelength
• What is the wave speed if the frequency is $2.4 \text{ Hertz}$ and the wavelength is $0.026 \text{ meters}$?


  $0.0624 \text{ meters per second}$
• Why might there be different results when measuring wave speed using two methods?

  Due to measurement errors, such as timing inaccuracies
• What is another method to determine wave speed in a ripple tank?

  By measuring the time it takes for a wave to travel the length of the tank