Question

Lab - Wave Properties in a Spring

11-05
The wave characteristics you will observe in this lab are common to all waves (water, light, sound,
etc.). Use your prior knowledge and the book to fill in the following blanks, then go in the hall and
perform the lab.
A wave is a disturbance that moves through (propagates) through empty space or through a
_____________. There are two types of waves. A _____________________ wave requires
matter to travel. List some examples of this type:
A _____________________ wave does not require a medium. Examples include:
In order to start and transmit a mechanical wave, a source of _____________ and an
_______________ medium are required. A single disturbance is referred to as a
_______________, and a series of disturbances is a wave __________.
The questions in bold are those you should observe directly. Others will be answered using the book.
A. TYPES OF MECHANICAL WAVES: In the hall, stretch the slinky on the floor until it is
stretched (but still loose). Practice sending single pulses down the slinky by popping your wrist
from the center to the side and back to the center. Then send a continuous wave train along as
your partner holds the other end still. A piece of ribbon should be tied to one coil. Watch the
motion of this ribbon (representing a particle) as the wave travels through the spring.
In this type of wave, the particles move (perpendicular, parallel)
to the direction the wave travels. This type of wave is called a __________________ wave.
Its pulses are called ________________ and ________________.
Now send a pulse by quickly pushing the spring forward and pulling
it back, as shown. This type of wave is called _______________. Watch the motion of the ribbon.
In this type, the particles move _____________ to the direction the wave travels. Its pulses
are called _____________ and _____________. Label each.
Note that all waves transfer _____________ without transferring _______________. In
mechanical waves, particles of the medium vibrate back and forth in simple harmonic motion while
the disturbance (or _____________) moves from one place to another.
B. WAVE SPEED
Send a large pulse, followed by a small one. Does one pulse catch up to the other? ______
(Hint: The person who sends these waves should watch how the waves look when they return. Make
sure that both pulses are large enough initially to make it back to the sender!) The size of the
pulse is called the __________________ of the wave. Did the size affect the speed? ______
Generate a single transverse pulse in the slinky, keeping the stretch constant. Using a stopwatch,
time the journey of the pulse from one end to the other and back again. Take the average of
several trials. _________
Without changing your positions on the floor (therefore keeping the _____________ the pulse
travels the same), pull the slinky tighter using only about 3/4 of the coils. This makes a completely
different medium through which the pulse will travel. Time the journey as before. ___________
Does the kind of medium affect the speed of the pulse? ___________
Lab – Wave Properties in a Spring ____________________
PHYSICSFundamentals
© 2004, GPB
11-06
C. WAVELENGTH AND FREQUENCY
Shake the slinky back and forth steadily to send a
transverse wave train while your partner holds the other end still. On the diagram, label wavelength
(- Greek letter lambda). The frequency of the wave depends on how fast you shake the slinky.
Shake it regularly but slowly, then regularly but rapidly.
Higher frequency waves are generated by shaking the spring (slowly, rapidly). High frequency
waves have (short, long) wavelengths, and low frequency waves have __________.
The speed of a wave in any medium is equal to the _______________ of the wave X
________________. This wave equation ___________________ shows that f and  are
______________ proportional. Write the units for each of the variables in this equation.

Answer 1

The exercise involves filling in the gaps with the possible wave

properties that can be obtained from a spring.

How is the Wave Properties in a Spring Lab exercise correctly completed?

The correctly completed exercise is presented as follows;

A wave is a disturbance that moves through a medium. There are two

types of waves. A mechanical wave requires matter to travel. List some

examples of this type: sound wave, water wave, spring waves.

A electromagnetic wave does not require a medium. Examples include: Light waves

In order to start and transmit a mechanical wave, a source of

disturbance and a physical medium are required. A single disturbance is

referred to as a pulse, and a series of disturbance is a wave train.

This type of wave is called transverse wave. Its pulses are called crest

and troughs.

Now send a pulse by quickly pushing the spring forward and pulling it

back, as shown. This type of wave is called longitudinal wave. Watch the

motion of the ribbon. In this type, the particles move parallel to the

direction the wave travels. Its pulses are called compression and

rarefactions. Note that all waves transfer energy without transferring

matter. In mechanical waves, particle of the medium vibrate back and

forth in simple harmonic motion while the disturbance (or energy)

moves from one place to another.

B. Wave speed

Does the pulse catch up to the other? yes. The size of the pulse is called

the amplitude of the wave.

Did the size of the pulse affect the speed? No.

The average time wave it takes the wave to travel

Without changing your positions therefore keeping the distance the

pulse travels the same), pull the slinky tighter using only about 3/4 of

coils. This makes a completely different medium through which the

pulse will travel. Time the journey as before time record. Does the kind

of medium affect the speed of the pulse? Yes

C. Wavelength and Frequency

High frequency waves have short wavelengths and low frequency waves

have long wavelengths.

The speed of a wave in any medium is equal to the frequency of the wave × the wavelength. This wave equation $\underline{f = \dfrac{v}{\lambda } }$ shows that f and λ are

inversely proportional. The units of the variables are;

• Units of the frequency, f is hertz unit Hz

• Units of the velocity, v, is m/s

• Units of the wavelength, λ, is meters (m)

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