Sunday, November 26, 2006

S.C.I.: Speed of Objects and Waves - Ideal Responses

Speed of Waves
5. In the video, it appeared that the speed of transverse and compressional Slinky waves didn't change when the frequency or amplitude of the waves was changed. The simulation in the video shows that the speed of sound waves doesn't change with frequency or amplitude, but changes in different materials (or media, substances).

6. The simulation in the video shows that sound waves travel more quickly through steel (solid) than through water (liquid), and more quicky through water than through air (gas). Evidence also comes from the measured speeds of sound in different media in different phases listed in the table in Activity 7.

posted by The Professor @ 6:03 PM 0 comments

S.C.I.: The Mechanical-Wave Interaction - Ideal Responses

Defining Characteristics of the Mechanical-Wave Interaction
3. When we watched the transverse and mechanical waves produced on the slinky, we observed that the string attached to the Slinky did not move along the length of the Slinky, rather it moved with the disturbance as the disturbance went by. After the disturbance (or pulse) went by, the string was back in its original position.

Types of Mechanical-Wave Interactions and Variables That Influence Them
7. When the person vibrating the Slinky back and forth increased the rate of vibration (the frequency), we saw that the wavelengths got shorter.
8. When the person vibrating the Slinky back and forth increased the distance from the starting position (the amplitude), it felt as if it took more energy to generate the wave, and the person at the receiving end said if felt as if the Slinky hit their hand more strongly - that the Slinky was transferring more energy to their hand.

posted by The Professor @ 5:51 PM 0 comments