Access Transverse Wave

Checking transverse wave motion on a spring.

ABSTRACT: The theoretical prediction of a transverse wave motion on a spring was compared to the experimental measurements of a transverse wave motion on a spring using two methods (direct measurement of a wave speed and measurement of wave speed using standing wave). The results obtained from our experiment indicates that the prediction is consistent with the experiment. (Wave speed increases with increase in tension). The percent differences (3 % for 10newton and 1.5 percent for 12newton) are smaller than the percentage of uncertainty ( 4.3% for 10 newton and 3.1% for 10 newton) indicative of consistency in our measured speed and the prediction.

INTRODUCTION: Waves occur all over the natural world. Light, sound, radiation, water ripples, etc. all occur as wave phenomena. Wave phenomena abide by the same rules regardless of the media it is transferred through. To use two different methods to measure the speed of transverse waves on a spring and compare the measured speeds to the predicted by the theory. (Transverse waves are wave in which the vibrations of the particles or medium in which the wave travels are at right angles to the direction in which the wave travels.)The first method is direct measurement of wave speed and the second method is measurement of wave speed using standing waves. In this lab you will observe the motion of transverse waves on a heavy spring, measure then wave speed as a function of the tension in the spring, and compare the measured speed to the speed predicted by theory.

METHODS: We used different apparatus, which includes long spiral spring, triple, bean balance, piece of ribbon, tape measure, stopwatch, 500g attachments for balance and spring balance.

The first method entails direct measurement of wave speed where two members of the held the spiral spring at each end and another member operate the stopwatch or the timekeeper. One of members holds the end of the spiral...