Waves: Required Practical Ripple Tank.

Question 1

What is a ripple tank used for?

Answer 1

• Observe the features of water waves.
• Shallow tray of water with a vibrating bar in the water.
• Bar is connected to a power pack + when it vibrates creates waves at the surface of the water.
• Above Ripple tank= Lamp.
• Below Ripple Tank= Sheet of white paper.
• Light shines through the water: Produces an image of the waves on the paper.

Question 2

How do we measure the wave length by using the ripple tank?

Answer 2

• Place a ruler on the paper vertically.
• Freeze the image of the wave, by using a mobile phone.
• ## Measure the length of all of the waves using the ruler and divide by the number of waves to find one wave length.

Question 3

How do we measure the frequency?

Answer 3

• Place a timer next to the paper + count number of waves passing a point in one second.
• Accurate to count the number of waves in 10 seconds and divide by 10.
• ## Easier recorded and watch in slow motion and remember to record the timer aswell.

Question 4

How do we determine the speed?

Answer 4

• By using the frequency and the wave length in the wave equation.
  OR
  Select a wave and measure the time it takes to move the length of the tank.
• Calculate speed by dividing the distance travelled by the time taken.
• May get different results using these two methods, due to measurment errors