Wave+Speed+Equation

A GoogleDoc is published that reflects these instructions. [|Click here], and make a copy of your own to work with!
 * Objective**: To determine the relationship among wave speed, frequency, wavelength, and amplitude.
 * Procedure**:

Go to: http://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/sims.php?sim=Wave_on_a_String and click Run Now.

1. Turn on the ruler and timer, set damping to zero and click the radio button for No End.

2. What happens to the speed of the wave as the tension slider is moved from high to low?

3. Use the ruler and timer to calculate the speed of the wave at high tension, low tension and in the middle.


 * || Distance || Time || Speed ||
 * High Tension ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Low Tension ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Medium (middle) Tension ||  ||   ||   ||

4. Click on Oscillate—measure the wavelengths for each of the following while TENSION is set to HIGH. To measure wavelength hit pause and use the ruler.


 * Frequency || Amplitude || Wavelength ||
 * 20 || 50 ||  ||
 * 20 || 20 ||  ||
 * 40 || 100 ||  ||
 * 40 || 30 ||  ||
 * 70 || 90 ||  ||
 * 70 || 60 ||  ||

5. How does changing the frequency affect the wavelength?

6. How does changing the amplitude affect the wavelength?

7. Speed = Frequency x Wavelength. Can you prove this with your data? How?


 * Data**: See tables above!


 * Analysis**: Turn the answers from the questions above into a coherent paragraph (or a few!).

Thanks for sharing a version of this activity on the PhET web site: Christopher Cochran, Montgomery County Public Schools