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Shive Wave Machine - Traveling Waves

Purpose

To demonstrate traveling waves.

Equipment

Shive Wave Machine with dashpot.

Suggestions

Use dashpot to prevent reflection at the other end of the machine.

Images

g3-01

Description

Make sinusoidal waves by moving the spines at one end of the machine up and down sinusoidally, either with your hand or using the wave generator. Vary the amplitude and the frequency and observe the wavelength. Show semi-quantitatively that the wave speed is the same for all frequencies.

References

B. A. Burgel, Dispersion, Reflection, and Eigenfrequencies on the Wave Machine, AJP 35, 913-915, (1967).