Wave Interference

Based on the Wave Interference simulator on PhET.

1. Measure the wavelength of two drops of different amplitude, leave frequency constant.

2. Measure the wavelength of two drops with different frequency, leave amplitude constant.

3. Explain your results.

 In my case I used an amplitude of aproximately halfway across the bar with the frequency at about a 1/4 the way and observed a wavelength of aproximately 5cm, when the amplitude was increased to aproximately 3/4 the bar and the frequency remained the same the observed wavelength remained constant. Therefore the assumption can be made that with varying amplitudes the wave length remains constant.   However when the frequency is increased from the previous setting to about 3/4 the bar the wavelength decreases from ~5cm to ~1cm. Showing that frequency and wavelength have an inverse relationship.

(For the next set of questions a second faucet was added.)

Screenshot of simulation with lettered points.

4. A. Measure the wavelength of the two drips.

The wavelength of the drips is ~2.5cm

    B. Then measure distances from each drip (X and Y) to the 6 constructive interference points (lettered points) and report these values. (See above picture)

XA=~3cm XB=~2.84cm XC=~5.14cm XD=~5.04cm XE=~5.16 XF=~7.39cm

YA=~3cm YB=~5.06cm YC=~2.93cm YD=~5.17cm YE=~7.26cm YF=~5.17cm

    C. Explain the observation you have on the distance comparisons to the constructive interference points to the wavelength of the water wave.

 This shows us that the resulting constructing wave points are the two seperate sets of waves layered over each other, or the waves are added to each other. This results in high points and low points in the pattern. The distance between the drips to the points increases by a multiple of the wavelength,~2.5cm, it is also noted that the distance between a point to its nearest point is also equal to the wavelength (from point A to B or A to C).