RP - Measuring Wave Properties

• What is the aim of this practical?

  To determine the wavelength and wave speed using a ripple tank
• What equipment will you need for experiment 1 - water waves in a ripple tank?

  ripple tank

  light source

  strobe light

  metre ruler

  large sheet of paper

  stopwatch

  signal generator
• what is the aim of this experiment?

  to measure frequency, wavelength and wave speed by observing water waves in a ripple tank
• what is the independent variable in this investigation?

  frequency of the waves
• what are the 2 dependent variables in this experiment?

  wavelength

  wave speed
• what are control variables?

  depth of water

  same temperature of the water
• What is the maximum depth of water in the ripple tank?

  1 cm
• What is the purpose of turning on the power supply and light source?

  To produce a wave pattern
• How do you find the wavelength of the waves in the ripple tank?

  Measure screen length and divide by wavefronts
• What is the formula to calculate the frequency of the waves?

  Frequency = number of wavefronts / time taken
• What should you do after recording the frequency and wavelength?

  Repeat the measurements
• How is the speed of the waves calculated?

  Wave speed = frequency x wavelength