Wave properties and behaviour

EasyMediumHard
1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829
Question 5
Medium

Figure 1 shows a ripple tank setup used to study water waves.

A student projects the wave pattern onto a white card underneath the tank.

To find the wavelength, the student uses a ruler to measure the distance between one bright band (representing a wave crest) and the very next bright band.

A schematic diagram of a ripple tank. A light source above the tank projects parallel light rays down through the water containing waves. Below the tank, a sheet of white paper shows a pattern of alternating parallel bright and dark bands. A ruler is placed next to the pattern, showing a measurement from the center of one bright band to the center of the adjacent bright band.

Explain how the student could improve their method to obtain a more accurate value for the wavelength.

[6]

Wave properties and behaviour Questions

  1. GCSE
  2. /Physics
  3. /Wave properties and behaviour