Wave Lab Sheet
This lab sheet goes with the online “Wave Lab” at www.abernathyscience.com
The answers should be written in your notebook (pg. 39-40), not on this paper.
1. Copy into your notebook the definition of a wave from the webpage.
Describing waves
2. Click on the crests & troughs picture and draw the diagram in your notebook.
Go to the frequency animation, and play around with it.
3. Use what you see to write your own definition of frequency in your notebook, which can include
diagrams.
Go to the amplitude and wavelength animation, and play around with it.
4. Use what you see to write your own definition of amplitude in your notebook, which can include
diagrams.
5. Use what you see to write your own definition of wavelength in your notebook, which can include
diagrams.
Types of Waves
Go to the wave motion page, and watch the animations of compressional and transverse waves.
6. Using a complete sentence, list one thing that is similar between compressional (a.k.a. longitudinal) and
transverse waves.
7. Using a complete sentence, list one difference between compressional (a.k.a. longitudinal) and
transverse waves.
Go to the red dot page, and use it to answer # 8 and #10. Notice that you can click between transverse and
longitudinal.
8. In your notebook, draw the diagram from the webpage.
Start the animation for the transverse wave. Carefully watch the red dot.
To the diagram you already drew, add a short line with arrows on both sides that shows the movement of
the red dot (like
or
).
9. Copy into your notebook the definition for transverse waves, including the diagram.
10. In your notebook, draw the diagram from the webpage.
Start the animation for the longitudinal wave (you have to click the button to change it). Carefully watch
the red dot.
To the diagram you already drew, add a short line with arrows on both sides that shows the movement of
the red dot (like
or
).
11. Copy into your notebook the definition for compressional waves, including the diagram.
Go the the earthquake wave website, and play the animations.
12. Answer in a complete sentence: What type of wave is a P-wave (transverse or compressional)?
13. Answer in a complete sentence: What type of wave is an S-wave (transverse or compressional)?
When you are done with all the other questions, check out the visualizations of different wavelengths of
sunlight, and electromagnetic waves. Sunlight is an electromagnetic wave, which is like two transverse
waves combined at right angles to each other.