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content provider: the Nuffield Curriculum Centre
written by the Nuffield Curriculum Centre
This is an experiment relating to wave motion developed for use in high school science physical classrooms.  Dynamics trolleys are connected by springs to model longitudinal and transverse waves. The detailed lesson plan fully explains set-up and how to adapt the lesson for regular or advanced high school physics. Students investigate how the wave speed is affected by changes in mass/tension, and how this dispersive system differs from a continuous wave medium like a rope or slinky.  The experiment is simple to set up for investigation in cooperative learning groups.  

This item is part of a much larger collection of physics/astronomy experiments, sponsored by the UK's Institute of Physics and funded by the Nuffield Curriculum Centre.  
SEE RELATED ITEMS BELOW for a link to the full collection.
Subjects Levels Resource Types
General Physics
- Curriculum
Oscillations & Waves
- Wave Motion
= Longitudinal Pulses and Waves
= Transverse Pulses and Waves
- High School
- Middle School
- Instructional Material
= Activity
= Instructor Guide/Manual
= Laboratory
Appropriate Courses Categories Ratings
- Physical Science
- Physics First
- Conceptual Physics
- Algebra-based Physics
- AP Physics
- Lesson Plan
- Activity
- Laboratory
- New teachers
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Learner
Educator
Format:
text/html
Access Rights:
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Restriction:
© 2006 The Nuffield Foundation
Additional information is available.
Keywords:
activities, experiment, hands-on, longitudinal waves, mechanical waves, practical physics, transverse waves, wave types, waves
Record Cloner:
Metadata instance created March 4, 2009 by Caroline Hall
Record Updated:
August 16, 2020 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update
when Cataloged:
October 27, 2007

This resource is part of a Physics Front Topical Unit.


Topic: Wave Energy
Unit Title: Types of Mechanical Waves

This simple, yet highly visual experiment uses dynamics trolleys, springs, and spring holders to model a transverse and a longitudinal wave.  The models are easy enough for students to set up, but allow exploration of complex concepts, such as how this dispersive system differs from a continuous wave medium like a rope or slinky (see experiment below for a companion activity).

Link to Unit:
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Record Link
AIP Format
Nuffield Curriculum Centre, (2006), WWW Document, (https://spark.iop.org/collections/mechanical-waves-and-superposition#waves-trolleys).
AJP/PRST-PER
Nuffield Curriculum Centre, Practical Physics: Waves with Trolleys (2006), <https://spark.iop.org/collections/mechanical-waves-and-superposition#waves-trolleys>.
APA Format
Nuffield Curriculum Centre. (2007, October 27). Practical Physics: Waves with Trolleys. Retrieved December 9, 2024, from https://spark.iop.org/collections/mechanical-waves-and-superposition#waves-trolleys
Chicago Format
Nuffield Curriculum Centre. Practical Physics: Waves with Trolleys. October 27, 2007. https://spark.iop.org/collections/mechanical-waves-and-superposition#waves-trolleys (accessed 9 December 2024).
MLA Format
Nuffield Curriculum Centre. Practical Physics: Waves with Trolleys. 2006. 27 Oct. 2007. Nuffield Curriculum Centre. 9 Dec. 2024 <https://spark.iop.org/collections/mechanical-waves-and-superposition#waves-trolleys>.
BibTeX Export Format
@misc{ Author = "Nuffield Curriculum Centre", Title = {Practical Physics: Waves with Trolleys}, Volume = {2024}, Number = {9 December 2024}, Month = {October 27, 2007}, Year = {2006} }
Refer Export Format

%Q Nuffield Curriculum Centre %T Practical Physics: Waves with Trolleys %D October 27, 2007 %U https://spark.iop.org/collections/mechanical-waves-and-superposition#waves-trolleys %O text/html

EndNote Export Format

%0 Electronic Source %A Nuffield Curriculum Centre, %D October 27, 2007 %T Practical Physics: Waves with Trolleys %V 2024 %N 9 December 2024 %8 October 27, 2007 %9 text/html %U https://spark.iop.org/collections/mechanical-waves-and-superposition#waves-trolleys


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Practical Physics: Waves with Trolleys:

Is Part Of Practical Physics

This is a link to the full collection of Practical Physics experiments.

relation by Caroline Hall
Is By The Same Author and Covers a Similar Topic As Practical Physics: Pulses and continuous waves with a Slinky spring

A companion experiment using Slinky springs and rubber tubing to produce transverse and longitudinal waves, allowing students to compare wave movement in a continuous system.

relation by Caroline Hall

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