MECHANICAL WAVE SIMULATOR ONLINE LAB
INSTRUCTIONS: Follow the instructions below, record your observations and data in your journals or type it in
a document.
PROCEDURE
1. Go to Physics Simulation: Simple Wave Simulator ([Link])
2. You will be using this simulator to collect qualitative and quantitative data regarding longitudinal and
transverse waves.
a. You can make the simulation window larger using the arrow in the bottom right corner.
3. Using the grey box in the upper right corner of the graphing area, switch between longitudinal
(sound) and transverse (rope) waves. Answer the following questions:
a. Compare the motion of the green particles in longitudinal and transverse waves.
b. In what direction is the energy transfer for each type of wave? How do you know?
Energy transfer is left to right in longitudinal waves and up and down in transverse waves, verified
through particle motion.
c. How does the motion of the red particles differ between longitudinal and transverse waves?
The motion of particles is horizontal for longitudinal waves and vertical for transverse waves.
4. Make sure that the simulation is switched to longitudinal waves. We will now look at the
relationship between wave properties.
5. Look at the wave properties located in the teal box on the bottom left of the simulator. Answer the
following questions qualitatively (no numbers):
a. What wave properties (if any) change when you alter the amplitude of the wave?
Amplitude changes the energy carried by the wave but does not alter speed.
b. What wave properties (if any) change when you alter the speed of the wave?
Wave speed remains constant when altered directly.
c. What wave properties (if any) change when you alter the frequency of the wave?
Frequency and wavelength are inversely related; altering frequency modifies wavelength.
6. Create a data table that quantitatively shows how changing the frequency affects the wavelength of
the wave.
a. You need a minimum of 5 different frequencies in your table
b. Record uncertainties: frequency is ±0.001 Hz and wavelength is ±0.1 cm
c. Below the table, record a single measurement of the constant wave properties: wave speed
and amplitude
Frequency Amplitude Wavelength
.192 .5 1125.1
.522 1 413.8
1.16 2 1.863
.840 1.5 257.2
.330 1 654.6
7. Using the data from data table 1, calculate the period of the wave and record this and your
wavelength in a second data table.
Period
5.21
1.92
0.87
1.2
3.04
8. Create a Wavelength vs. Period graph (wavelength on the y-axis).
a. You should use your school laptop and Logger Pro to create this graph.
b.
c. Include a best fit line and include the equation for this graph with appropriate variables from
our Unit 6 equations.
d. How much was the slope of this Logger Pro graph? ( with appropriate units)
e. The measured slope of the graph is approximately 42 cm/s.
9. Answer the following analysis questions:
a. What wave property is represented by the slope of the line?
The slope represents the wave speed, calculated as cm/s.
b. Calculate the percent error of you slope compared with the expected value given in the
simulation.
% Error= |
Theoretical Value−Experimental Value
Theoretical Value |
×100 %
%Error=220220−216.1×100%=2203.9×100%≈1.94%