Name: Date: Pd:

Wave Investigation Investigative Question: What effect does frequency and amplitude have on wavelength in waves?

Procedures:

1. Access the ‘Waves on a String’ simulation through the link https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/wave-on-a-string

2. Make sure that the green box in the left corner is set to Oscillate and the box to the right has a NO end.

3. Play with the Amplitude in the bottom box. ✎ What do you see happen to the wave on the string when you increase

the amplitude?

4. Play with the Frequency in the bottom box. ✎ What do you see happen when you increase the frequency?

5. Click on the Rulers button on the bottom box. Then set the amplitude and frequency to the values below. Measure

the wavelength (the distance from the top of one wave to the next). Use this button to help you move the wave

in small increments so you can measure wavelength λ more accurately. ✎ Record the wavelength λ.

Amplitude (cm) Frequency f (Hz*) Wavelength λ (cm)

1.25 cm 2.05 Hz

*Hz stands for Hertz, which means ‘how many times PER second’ 1/second or s-1.

A. What happens to wavelength λ when you vary amplitude?

✎ Gather evidence: (your data)

Amplitude (cm) Frequency f (Hz*) Wavelength λ (cm)

0.50 cm 2.05 Hz

0.75 cm 2.05 Hz

1.00 cm 2.05 Hz

1.25 cm 2.05 Hz

✎ Claim: What happened to λ when you varied the amplitude?

✎ Reasoning: (explain how your evidence/data proves your claim/answer)

B. What happens to wavelength λ when you vary frequency f ?

✎ Gather evidence: (your data)

Amplitude (cm) Frequency f (Hz*) Wavelength λ (cm)

1.25 cm 3.00 Hz

1.25 cm 2.00 Hz

1.25 cm 1.50 Hz

1.25 cm 1.00 Hz

✎ Claim: What happened to the λ when you varied the frequency f ?

✎ Reasoning: (explain how your evidence/data proves your claim/answer)

C. Describe, using your data and thoughts about your data, what you noticed between amplitude and frequency as it

relates to wavelength λ ?

D. Did you notice a relationship between amplitude and frequency? _________ Relationships can be direct, inverse,

exponential, or independent. Describe what you noticed AND how:

E. Using your knowledge of energy, both PE and KE…what characteristics of waves should show more energy?

Waves with high amplitude?

Waves with high frequency?

In what ways does wavelength of a wave affect its energy?