BICOL STATE COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY

Peñafrancia Avenue, Naga City Philippines 4400

EXPLORING WAVES
WAVES AND OPTICS
LABORATORY 1
1st Semester, S/Y 2021-2022

Name: Gene Marie A. Yañez Section: BSED-Science3A

Date: 09/17/2021 Instructor: Imelda Corazon Camposano

II. Introduction

With the continuous improvement in technologies, it allows teachers and students explore science
and develop in new ways. It allows us to understand concepts in science most especially the things in
science that are cannot be seen by our naked eye. Simple Wave Simulator is one of those things that can
help us to understand and explore specific concept in Science. It is a virtual wave machine that will allow us
to explore the nature of wave, the quantitative relationship between the wavelength, frequency, wave speed
and amplitude. This Simple Wave Simulator is one of the products of science and technology that is for
exploring further about science. Aside from that, we will be able to observe the wave motion and particle
motion, which is an important topic in discussing waves. The wave motion is the collection of crests and
through on a moving rope. On the other hand, the particle motion is the movement of particle in a rope
while in motion; it is represented by three red-dots. In addition, it is noticeable that as the particles move
they are having trail behind. The longer the trail, the faster the particles move. In addition, we can also
compare the transverse wave through a rope and longitudinal wave through a sound with different tempo.
Transverse and longitudinal wave are both traveling disturbances but they have different way when
travelling (Stites, 2003).

This study aims to:

- Describe the motion of the particles of the rope.
- Discuss the motion of the particle: at its greatest speed and smallest speed.
- Compare the direction of the movement of particles to the direction of the movement of the wave.
- Compare the motion of particles in high-frequency motion to low-frequency motion
- Describe the difference between a high amplitude wave and a low amplitude wave.
- Describe the two-ways to increase the wavelength.

III. Method/ Procedure

A. Materials :

- Simple Wave Simulator

Link: https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Interactives/Waves-and-Sound/Simple-
Wave-Simulator/Simple-Wave-Simulator-Interactive
 B. Diagram of Lab Setup :

Fig 1. Wave a rope Fig 2. Wave as sound

C. Steps Taken

1. Set the animation to show waves on a Rope under a Real-Time Tempo.

2. Set the Frequency to 0.10 Hz (approximately).
3. Set the Wave Speed to 100 cm/s.
4. Set the Wave Amplitude to 2 cm.
5. Describe the motion of the particles of the rope.
6. Discuss the motion of the particle: at its greatest speed and smallest speed.
7. Compare the direction of the movement of particles to the direction of the movement of the wave.
8. Set the Frequency to the highest and lowest value.
9. Compare the motion of particles in high-frequency motion to low-frequency motion
10. Set the Amplitude wave from the highest value to lowest value.
11. Describe the difference between a high amplitude wave and a low amplitude wave.
12. Describe the two-ways to increase the wavelength.

IV. Result/Data
A. Data Tables

Frequency Wave Speed Wave Amplitude Wavelength

0.104 Hz 100 cm/s 2cm 964.1cm
(approximately} (lowest wave speed)
0 Hz 100 cm/s 2cm Infinity
(lowest frequency)
1.16 HZ 100 cm/s 2cm 86.3 cm.
(highest frequency)
0.104 Hz 100 cm/s 0.5 cm 964.1 cm.
(approximately} (lowest amplitude)
0.104 Hz 100 cm/s 2 cm 964.1 cm.
(approximately} (highest amplitude)
 0.104 Hz 216 cm/s 2 cm 2082.4 cm
(approximately} (highest wave speed)
Fig 3. Quantitative Relationships

B. Explanation:

The data table above shows the quantitative relationship of Frequency, Wave Speed, Wave
Amplitude and Wavelength. It also shows how the other factor is affected when one of the values had
some changes. For example, we can see that the when we put the frequency at its lowest point 0 Hz,
with constant wave speed 100 cm/s and wave amplitude 2 cm, the wavelength become infinity
comparing it to the frequency with the highest value 1.16 Hz with the same wave speed and wave
amplitude, its wavelength becomes 86. 3 cm. We can also observe that when the frequency and wave
speed had some changes, the wavelength also undergone changes in its quantity. The wave amplitude
does not affect the wavelength.

V. Discussion/Analysis

Upon exploring the Simple Wave Simulator and following the steps above, the following information
below are the findings for this activity:
 Upon observing the particle motion which is represented by three-red dots, the motions of the
particles are perpendicular to the direction of the wave motion.
 As the particles move, they leave a trail behind them. We can observe that the when it has a longer
trail, the faster it move. The higher the frequency, the faster the trail moves. When the frequency is
in 0 Hz, the does not move.
 Transverse wave which is characterized as the particle motion moves perpendicularly to the
direction of the wave motion.
 O Hz and 1.16 Hz are the lowest value and highest value of frequency, respectively. Upon
observing, when we put the frequency at its highest value, we can see that the wavelength
becomes shorter. When the frequency is at its lowest value, the wavelength becomes longer and
even becomes infinite. Indeed, the frequency of the wave if inversely proportional to the
wavelength. The higher the frequency, the shorter its wavelength. The lower the frequency, the
longer the wavelength.
 Amplitude is the maximum distance of the particles. As the amplitude gets at its highest value (2
cm), the higher the crest formed and the faster the particles moves. As the amplitude gets at its
lowest value (0.5 cm), the crests that are formed are low and the particles moves slower.
 Upon further exploring the Simple Wave Simulator, I observe that changes frequency and wave
speed can also cause changes in wavelength. The higher the frequency, the shorter its
wavelength. While, the higher the wave speed, the higher the wave length. The frequency is
inversely proportional to the wavelength while the wave speed is directly proportional to the
wavelength.
VI. Conclusions
This experiment aims to explain the quantitative relationship between the wavelength, frequency,
wave speed and amplitude as well as describe the motion of the particles of the rope, the motion of the
particle: at its greatest speed and smallest speed, the difference between a high amplitude wave and a low
amplitude wave, the two-ways to increase the wavelength. In addition, compare the direction of the
movement of particles to the direction of the movement of the wave and the motion of particles in high-
frequency motion to low-frequency motion

Results show that the motions of the particles are perpendicular to the direction of the wave
motion. The longer trail, the faster it moves. The higher the frequency, the faster the trail moves.
Transverse wave which is characterized as the particle motion moves perpendicularly to the direction of the
wave motion. The frequency is inversely proportional to the wavelength while the wave speed is directly
proportional to the wavelength. The higher the frequency, the shorter its wavelength while the higher the
wave speed, the higher the wave length. Similarly, the wave length is greatly affected by the frequency and
wave speed. Lastly, the higher the amplitude, the higher the crest and the faster the particles move. The
Simple Wave Simulator can be definitely used for the further exploration of waves however, it can be also
be an offline virtual wave machine so that it will be accessible to every kind of student.

VII. References

[1] Nathaniel Stites (2003). Waves and Waves Motion: Describing Waves. Vision Learning[Internet].
Available from: https://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Physics/24/Waves-and-Wave-Motion/102