Waves on a Spring Lab - legacyjr.net

Name Date Class<strong>Waves</strong> on a SpringLab PreviewDirections: Answer these questions before you begin the Lab.1. Why should you wear goggles when performing this lab?Hands-On Activities2. How will you use yarn in this lab?<strong>Waves</strong> are rhythmic disturbances that carry energy through matter or space.Studying waves can help you understand how the Sun’s energy reaches Earthand sounds travel through the air.Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.Real-World QuestionWhat are some of the properties of transverse and compressional waves on a coiled spring?Materialslong, coiled spring toycolored yarn (5 cm)Goalsmeterstickstopwatch■ Create transverse and compressional waves on a coiled spring toy.■ Investigate wave properties such as speed and amplitude.Safety PrecautionsWARNING: Avoid overstretching or tangling the spring to prevent injury or damage.Procedure1. Study the data table on the next pagebefore you begin the lab.2. Work in pairs or groups and clear a placeon an uncarpeted floor about 6 m ✕ 2 m.3. Stretch the springs between two people to thelength suggested by your teacher. Measurethe length.4. Create a wave with a quick, sideways snapof the wrist. Time several waves as theytravel the length of the spring. Record theaverage time in the data table in the Dataand Observations section.5. Repeat step 4 using waves that have slightlylarger amplitudes.6. Squeeze together about 20 of the coils.Observe what happens to the unsqueezedcoils. Release the coils and observe.7. Quickly push the spring toward your partner,then pull it back.8. Tie the yarn to a coil near the middle of thespring. Repeat step 7, observing the string.9. Calculate and compare the speeds of thewaves in steps 4 and 5.<strong>Waves</strong> 5

Name Date Class(continued)Hands-On ActivitiesData and ObservationsWave DataLength of stretched spring toyAverage time for a wave to travelfrom end to end—step 4Average time for a wave to travelfrom end to end—step 5Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4Conclude and Apply1. Classify the wave pulses you created in each step as compressional or transverse.2. Classify the unsqueezed coils in step 6 as a compression or a rarefaction.3. Compare and contrast the motion of the yarn in step 8 with the motion of the wave.Communicating Your DataWrite a summary paragraph of how this lab demonstrated any of the vocabulary wordsfrom the first two sections of the chapter. For more help, refer to the Science SkillHandbook.Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.6 <strong>Waves</strong>