ripple tank

• What is the purpose of a ripple tank?

  To observe features of water waves
• What does a vibrating bar in a ripple tank do?

  It creates waves across the water surface
• What equipment is used to measure the wavelength in a ripple tank?

  A ruler
• How do you measure the wavelength using a ripple tank?

  Measure the distance of 10 wavelengths
• If 10 wavelengths equal 26 centimeters, what is one wavelength in meters?

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

  Number of waves passing a point each second
• How can you accurately measure frequency in a ripple tank?

  Count waves in 10 seconds, then divide by 10
• How do you determine the speed of water waves?

  Multiply frequency by wavelength
• What is the wave speed if the frequency is 2.4 Hertz and the wavelength is $0.026 \text{ meters}$?


  $0.0624 \text{ meters per second}$
• What is another method to determine wave speed in a ripple tank?

  Measure time for a wave to travel the tank
• Why might results differ when measuring wave speed by two methods?

  Due to measurement errors