The Physics Classroom: The Speed of a Wave

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written by Tom Henderson

This item is an interactive tutorial for high school physics/physical science on wave properties. It explores variables that affect the speed of a wave traveling through a medium. This resource serves to dispel the misconception that wave speed is a factor of the frequency of the wave. It was developed to build understanding that the wave speed is dependent on properties of the medium in which it moves. A self-paced question-and-answer sequence is provided at the end.

This item is part of The Physics Classroom, a web-based collection of tutorials for high school physics students.

https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/waves/U10L2d.cfm

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Oscillations & Waves - Wave Motion = Longitudinal Pulses and Waves = Transverse Pulses and Waves	- High School - Middle School	- Instructional Material = Tutorial

Appropriate Courses	Categories	Ratings
- Physics First - Conceptual Physics - Algebra-based Physics - AP Physics	- Activity - Assessment - New teachers	Currently 0.0/5 Want to rate this material? Login here!

Intended Users:: Learner
Educator
Formats:: text/html
image/gif
Access Rights:: Free access
Restriction:: © 1996 Tom Henderson
Keywords:: frequency, interactive tutorial, problem set, tutorial, wave period, wave properties, wave speed
Record Cloner:: Metadata instance created March 18, 2009 by Caroline Hall
Record Updated:: May 22, 2012 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update when Cataloged:: December 12, 2008

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This resource is part of a Physics Front Topical Unit.

Topic: Wave Energy
Unit Title: Wave Properties: Frequency, Amplitude, Period, Phase

Try using this tutorial as a cooperative learning activity. Students explore the variables that affect wave speed by analyzing sample data and completing a question-and-answer set. It helps build understanding that wave speed is dependent on properties of the medium in which it moves, a central idea to be applied in problems relating to wave energy.

Link to Unit:

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Record Link

<a href="https://www.compadre.org/precollege/items/detail.cfm?ID=8703">Henderson, Tom. The Physics Classroom: The Speed of a Wave. December 12, 2008.</a>

AIP Format

T. Henderson, (1996), WWW Document, (https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/waves/U10L2d.cfm).

AJP/PRST-PER

T. Henderson, The Physics Classroom: The Speed of a Wave (1996), <https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/waves/U10L2d.cfm>.

APA Format

Henderson, T. (2008, December 12). The Physics Classroom: The Speed of a Wave. Retrieved October 8, 2024, from https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/waves/U10L2d.cfm

Chicago Format

Henderson, Tom. The Physics Classroom: The Speed of a Wave. December 12, 2008. https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/waves/U10L2d.cfm (accessed 8 October 2024).

MLA Format

Henderson, Tom. The Physics Classroom: The Speed of a Wave. 1996. 12 Dec. 2008. 8 Oct. 2024 <https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/waves/U10L2d.cfm>.

BibTeX Export Format

@misc{ Author = "Tom Henderson", Title = {The Physics Classroom: The Speed of a Wave}, Volume = {2024}, Number = {8 October 2024}, Month = {December 12, 2008}, Year = {1996} }

Refer Export Format

%A Tom Henderson %T The Physics Classroom: The Speed of a Wave %D December 12, 2008 %U https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/waves/U10L2d.cfm %O text/html

EndNote Export Format

%0 Electronic Source %A Henderson, Tom %D December 12, 2008 %T The Physics Classroom: The Speed of a Wave %V 2024 %N 8 October 2024 %8 December 12, 2008 %9 text/html %U https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/waves/U10L2d.cfm

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The Physics Classroom: The Speed of a Wave:

Covers the Same Topic As Illinois PER Interactive Examples: Waves on a Slinky

This is a comprehensive interactive homework problem about the speed of a pulse sent along a Slinky toy. It focuses on the same central idea as The Physics Classroom tutorial here, and extends it to use mathematics in a real-life problem.

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Has Teaching Guide The Laboratory

Looking for a lab that coordinates with this page? Try the A Wave for Motion Lab from The Laboratory.