Wave Speeds

Work type: Project

Format: Other : Other

Pages: 2 pages ( 550 words, Double spaced

Academic level: High school

Subject or discipline: Physics

Title: Experiment: Wave Speeds

Number of sources: 0

Paper instructions:

EXPERIMENT: WAVE SPEEDS

Try this investigation of the effect of the medium on wave speeds.

OBJECTIVES

Make quantitative observations and measurements at the appropriate level of precision.

Analyze, evaluate and predict trends from data.

Communicate conclusions for peer review.

These supplies are needed:

Slinky®

stopwatch or sweep second hand

meter stick

Follow these directions and answer the question.

On the floor, or a large flat surface, fix one end of the Slinky® and extend it approximately 5 meters (Note: this is for an average full size Slinky® ).

Generate a pulse by making a quick wave with the free end of the Slinky®. You will use the stopwatch to time how long it takes the wave to travel to the far end and back. Repeat this several times to obtain an average.

Extend the Slinky® by about 1 additional meter (you still want to be able to make a wave).

Repeat Step 2.

Extend the Slinky® by about 1 more additional meter (you still want to be able to make a wave).

Repeat Step 2.

Calculate the velocities, using d/t. Make sure you accurately measure exactly how far you stretched your slinky for each wave.

Complete the lab and answer the following questions.

Why does stretching the slinky change the density of the medium carrying the pulse?

How did the different stretches (densities) affect the velocity of the pulse?