Waves and Light
Go to the Phet Waves Intro and click on Light.
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/waves-intro/latest/wavesintro_en.html
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Spend 3 minutes exploring the light simulation. Experiment with the tools and the colors.
Attach your wave meter. Your set up should look like the one below.
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Screen is selected
Sound Effect is selected
Amplitude is in the middle
Attached the Wave Meter
Click on Slow
2. Start with the frequency on
Green
Move the frequency to the
colors as listed in the table and
record your findings…
Record your observations in the
table below:
COLOR
Green
Blue
Purple
Yellow
Red
Dark Red
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS
HOW DOES THE PITCH OF
THE ATTACHED SOUND
COMPARE WITH THE
OTHER COLORS?
USING THE WAVE METER,
HOW MANY WAVES DO
YOU SEE IN THE METER?
3. Why does the screen turn the color of the light being emitted? Explain…
Click on the “graph” and explore the simulation. Your set up should look like the one below:
4. What is being graphed with light waves (look at the labels on the x and y-axis)? Explain…
5. A. Compare the waves at the start of the graph to the end of the graph. Write down what you
observe, then explain why the waves are changing over time…
B. Try another color to see if you observe the same thing while watching the graph.
What did you observe?