EXPERIMENT 1
WAVE SPEED
OBJECTIVE: To study the speed of a wave with the help of a spring (slinky)
MATERIALS: 1 slinky, 1 meterstick, 1 stopwatch
PROCEDURE:
1. Stretch the slinky flat on the floor. Keep the length constant. Measure and record the
length. Take a picture. Generate a narrow transverse pulse at one end and observe it as it
travels back and forth along the slinky. Take a video if possible, so you can review it later.
QUESTION 1: Does the shape of the pulse change during the trip? Describe the change. Is
the change rapid or slow?
QUESTION 2: Does the amplitude of the pulse change during the trip? Is the change large or
small? Explain.
2. Generate a narrow pulse at one end (Option: take a video). Measure the time it takes the
pulse to travel to the other end. Calculate the speed of the pulse by dividing the distance by
the time. Next generate a similar pulse of larger amplitude. Measure the time and calculate
the speed as before.
QUESTION 3: Is the speed the same or quite different for two pulses of different amplitudes?
3. Repeat procedure 2 for a pulse of broader width.
QUESTION 4: Is the speed nearly the same or quite different for the two pulses of different
widths? Discuss relative to what is expected.
4. Increase the stretch of the slinky by about ½ meter and repeat step 2. Increasing the
length increases the tension in the slinky.
QUESTION 5: How does the increase in tension affect the speed of the pulse?
5. Generate a sinusoidal wave (take a video). Make a sketch of the sinusoidal wave. Label
the amplitude and wavelength in your sketch.
6. Generate a longitudinal pulse at one end and measure the length and time it takes to
travel to the other end (take a video). Increase the length of the slinky and repeat. Calculate
the wave speed for each length.
QUESTION 6: Does the speed of the longitudinal wave depend on the tension? Discuss
relative to what is expected.
Note: You can make snapshots from the video and paste these pictures as part of your
data.
Group:____ Family Names: Ambrona; Dela Pena Date Performed:_______
EXPERIMENT 1 LABORATORY REPORT: Wave Speed
I. Data:
Procedure 1: Length
Q1: Does the shape of the pulse change during the trip? Yes.
Q1: Describe the change. Is the change rapid or slow?
The wave starts as a sharp peak, but as it travels, it becomes more like a gentle
slope. This change happens slowly and is not an immediate change.
Q2: Does the amplitude of the pulse change during the trip? Yes.
Q2: Is the change large or small? Explain.
The change was small, almost not noticeable. The pulse spread out and became less
focused as it traveled along the slinky, leading to a smaller amplitude.
Procedure 2: Time 2 seconds Wave Speed 23 cm/s
Time (larger A) 2 seconds Wave Speed (larger A) 23 cm/s
Q3: Is the speed the same or quite different for two pulses of different
amplitudes?
The speed were the same for the two pulses with different amplitudes.
2 23
Procedure 3: Time (broader width) Wave Speed (broader width)
seconds cm/s
Time (larger A – broader width) 2 seconds
23 cm/s
Wave Speed (larger A – broader width)
Q4: Is the speed nearly the same or quite different for the two pulses of different
widths?
Yes, they were the same.
Q4: Discuss relative to what is expected.
I thought that the time needed by the pulse to travel would be greater in the pulse
with larger amplitude and broader width. However, the experiment showed that the
amplitude and width does not have a significant effect so as to change the speed of a
pulse.
Procedure 4: Length Time
Procedure 4: Wave Speed
Procedure 4: Time (larger A)
Procedure 4: Wave Speed (larger A)
Q5: How does the increase in tension affect the speed of the pulse?
Procedure 5: Sketch of the sinusoidal wave
Procedure 6: Length Time
Wave Speed Increased length
Time (increased length) Wave Speed (increased length)
Q6: Does the speed of the longitudinal wave depend on the tension?
Q6: Discuss relative to what is expected.
GROUP’S REFLECTION (IN BULLET FORM)
GUIDE QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:
1. What is the most significant experience that you had in this experiment and why do you consider it the
most significant?
2. What lessons and skills (in Physics and life) have you learned and acquired from this experiment? How do
these help you become a better student and person?
3. With your “enhanced” knowledge, how can you contribute to your chosen field using the techniques and
concepts involved in this experiment?
Revised By:
Raymund S. Vizcarra, CE, MSc, PhD
Professor
Revised: June, 2024
