RPA Ripple Tank

Question 1

Describe a ripple tank

Answer 1

Shallow tray of water
- in the water is a vibrating bar connected to a power pack

Question 2

What happens when bar vibrates

Answer 2

Creates waves across the surface of the water

Question 3

What happens when light shines through water

Answer 3

Produces an image of the waves on the paper

Question 4

Easiest way to do this

Answer 4

Record the waves on a phone
= allows us to play back recording at different speeds or freeze the image

Question 5

How to measure wavelength

Answer 5

• place ruler on paper
• freeze image of waves
• measure distance between one wave and ten waves further
  = 10 wavelengths
• to find one we divide by ten

Question 6

How to find frequency

Answer 6

• place timer next to paper
• count number of waves in 10 seconds and divide by 10
• remember to record timer

Question 7

How to workout wave speed

Answer 7

• use wave equation
  Wave speed= freq X wavelength