1. Model and describe the types and properties of waves using a Slinky.
SLINKY LAB
Model and describe the types and properties of waves using a Slinky.

2. SLINKY LAB TRANSVERSE WAVES:
Be GENTLE. Don’t shake too violently. The Slinky should NOT fall off of your table.
LIGHTS OFF = HANDS OFF.
Do not touch the Slinky again until instructed to. (Lights on)
TRANSVERSE WAVES:
Shake the Slinky back and forth to make a wave shaped like a snake slithering side-to-side.
LONGITUDINAL WAVES:
Have one person push their end of the Slinky directly towards the other person. Try to keep the Slinky totally straight (no snake shape).

3. SLINKY LAB
Be GENTLE. Don’t shake too violently. The Slinky should NOT fall off of your table.
LIGHTS OFF = HANDS OFF.
Do not touch the Slinky again until instructed to. (Lights on)
wavelength
wavelength

4. Transverse Waves
Vibrates perpendicular (90) to the direction of wave travel
Example: Electromagnetic waves

5. Longitudinal Waves
Vibrates parallel (in the same direction) to the direction of wave travel
Example: sound waves

6. Surface Waves A combination of longitudinal & transverse
Example: Ocean waves

7. Wavelength
Wavelength is the distance across 1 FULL wave (1 crest & 1 trough)
WAVELENGTH

8. Amplitude (Transverse Waves)
The distance between the crest or trough and the wave’s resting position (wave height).
Crest
Amplitude
Resting
Position
Amplitude
Trough

9. Wavelength (Longitudinal Waves)
Wavelength is the distance from:
Compression to compression

10. Amplitude (Longitudinal Waves)
We look at how compressed or how rarefied the spring or particles are.

11. SLINKY LAB Use your Slinky to make TRANSVERSE waves.
Be GENTLE. Don’t shake too violently. The Slinky should NOT fall off of your table.
LIGHTS OFF = HANDS OFF.
Do not touch the Slinky again until instructed to. (Lights on)
Use your Slinky to make TRANSVERSE waves.
Try to create waves that are CLOSE TOGETHER so you make AS MANY as possible across your table.
Try to create waves that are FAR APART so you make AS FEW as possible across your table.

12. SLINKY LAB
Be GENTLE. Don’t shake too violently. The Slinky should NOT fall off of your table.
LIGHTS OFF = HANDS OFF.
Do not touch the Slinky again until instructed to. (Lights on)

13. Frequency
What does it mean that a friend comes over to your house “frequently”?
The frequency of a wave tells us the number of waves that pass a given point in a certain amount of time.

14. Which has a higher frequency?

15. SLINKY LAB
Be GENTLE. Don’t shake too violently. The Slinky should NOT fall off of your table.
LIGHTS OFF = HANDS OFF.
Do not touch the Slinky again until instructed to. (Lights on)

16. SLINKY LAB Use your Slinky to make LONGITUDINAL waves.
Be GENTLE. Don’t shake too violently. The Slinky should NOT fall off of your table.
LIGHTS OFF = HANDS OFF.
Do not touch the Slinky again until instructed to. (Lights on)
Use your Slinky to make LONGITUDINAL waves.
Using a moderately slow tempo, send waves from one end of the spring toy to the other. Do not start out too fast.
Count the number of waves you send during the 10 seconds and record it in the first row of Table 1.
Repeat four more times, increasing your tempo each time and recording the number of waves sent in each trial in Table 1.

17. Finding Frequency Frequency = # waves / Time
Measured in Hertz (Hz) = waves/sec
If 3 waves passes a point every second, it has a frequency of 3 Hz. (3 waves/1 sec = 3 waves/sec = 3 Hz)
What is the frequency for 6 waves in 3 seconds?

18. How can you find the frequency of this wave?
Step 1: pick a point on the wave.
Step 2: count the waves that pass that point in ___ seconds.

19. Frequency = # waves / Time

20. SLINKY LAB Use your Slinky to make LONGITUDINAL waves.
Be GENTLE. Don’t shake too violently. The Slinky should NOT fall off of your table.
LIGHTS OFF = HANDS OFF.
Do not touch the Slinky again until instructed to. (Lights on)
Use your Slinky to make LONGITUDINAL waves.
Try to create waves with LARGE amplitude (really squeezed together) and waves with SMALL amplitude (compressions more spread out).   
Use your Slinky to make TRANSVERSE waves.
Try to create waves with LARGE amplitude and waves with SMALL amplitude.

22. What does amplitude tell us about a wave?
Which of these waves would cause more damage if it hit the shore?
Which has the larger amplitude?
Which wave has more energy?
THAT’S
AMPLITUDE!