Experiments with waves

Question 1

Describe this experiment

Answer 1

1. Attatch a signal generator to a speaker to generate a sound with a specific frequency
2. Set up the oscilloscope so the detected waves at each microphone are shown as separate waves.
3. Start with both microphones next to the speaker, then slowly move one away until the two waves on the oscilloscope have aligned but are one wavelength apart
4. Use v=fλ to find the speed (v) of the sound waves passing through the air
5. The speed of sound in air is around 330 m/s so check your results roughly agree

Question 2

Describe this experiment

Answer 2

1. Create water waves in the tank at a set frequency, using the signal generator attached to the dipper of a ripple tank
2. Dim the lights and turn on the lamp to see the wave crests as shadows
3. The distance between each shadow lenth is 1 wavelength. Measure the distance between shadow lines that are 10 wavelengths and divide the distance by 10 to find the average wavelength.
4. Use v=fλ to calculate the wave speed of the waves

Question 3

Describe this experiment

Answer 3

1. Set up the experiment as shown and then turn on the signal generator and vibration transducer so the string will start to vibrate.
2. Adjust the frequency of the signal generator until there’s a clear wave on the string
3. Measure the wavelength of 1 wave
4. The frequency is whatever the signal generator is set to
5. You can find the speed of the wave using v=fλ