Lab: Wave Behavior Web Quest (Ripple Tank) Conceptual Physics
Waves behave in a predictable manner as they encounter obstacles, openings, other waves or changes in the medium. We will observe these phenomena in the ripple tank lab.
Objective:
Define different wave phenomena. Observe videos of water waves in a ripple tank and draw wave phenomena. Describe what happens to a wave. (Wave pulse, periodic straight waves, reflection, refraction, diffraction and interference.)
Procedures:
1. Define the following terms, with a diagram:
wave front, wave direction, wavelength, incident wave, wave pulse , periodic wave
2. Use the internet to look up and read about the wave phenomenon. Define the wave phenomenon, describing what happens to the wave and how the wave changes as it interacts with obstacles or other waves.
3. Go to Mrs. O’Brien’s web page, and click on “General Physics: Wave Behavior Web Quest Lab”. Click on the links provided to watch videos of water waves moving through a ripple tank and observe specific wave phenomenon. Pause and back up videos as needed so you can observe the shape of the wave, which direction the wave is moving, and how it may change. You will need to scan through the videos to find the clips. Note on your lab sheet which video and time into the clip you observed the phenomenon.
4. Draw diagrams of the observed phenomena. Draw incident waves in a different color than reflected, refracted or diffracted waves. Include arrows that are perpendicular the wave front showing the direction the wave is moving. For each phenomenon, provide a description of how the wave behaves as it moves through the tank or encounters an obstacle/opening. Note if the wavelength changes (state how) and/ or if the shape of the wave changes (state how). Ignore waves that reflect off the sides of the tank.
wave front
wave direction
wavelength
incident wave
wave pulse
periodic wave
Observations:
1. Periodic Straight Waves (velocity of wave is constant)
A. B.
a. Low frequency - b. High frequency –
How many waves are seen? How many waves are seen?
Make a statement about the relationship between frequency and wavelength, when the velocity is constant.
2. Reflection:
A. B. C.
a. Straight wave pulses b. Straight waves pulses incident c. Circular waves hitting a
moving toward a barrier. on a barrier at a 45o angle. straight barrier.
What changes about the wave?
3. Refraction:
a. Straight periodic waves moving from deep to shallow water.
Draw a line in the tank showing where the depth
of the water changes. Indicate where the water is
deep and where it is shallow.
Note: frequency remains constant. What changes?
4. Diffraction:
A. B.
a. Straight periodic waves through b. Straight periodic waves through
a narrow opening. a wide opening.
What do the waves do as they go through an opening? What changes about the wave?
5. Doppler Effect:
The source of the periodic waves is moving toward the .
The velocity of the waves remains constant as the waves move through the medium.
Use the following equation to answer B and D.
velocity = wavelength x frequency.
A. What happens to the wavelength of the waves in front of the moving source?
B. What effect will this have on the frequency of the wave?
C. What happens to the wavelength of the waves behind the moving source?
D. What effect does this have on the frequency of the waves?
6. Interference:
Destructive Interference –
Constructive Interference –
a. Two sets of circular waves generate a new wave pattern.
How does the wave patternappear in areas where there is destructive interference between two sets of circular waves?
How does the wave pattern appear in area where there is constructive interference between two sets of circular waves?