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Wave on a String

Watch a string vibrate in slow motion. Wiggle the end of the string and make waves, or adjust the frequency and amplitude of an oscillator. Adjust the damping and tension. The end can be fixed, loose, or open.

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Version 2.00
259 KB
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Topics Teaching Ideas Software Requirements Translated Versions Credits

Topics

Main Topics

  • Waves
  • Frequency
  • Amplitude

Related Topics

Sample Learning Goals

  • Discuss wave properties using common vocabulary.
  • Predict the behavior of waves through varying medium and at reflective endpoints.

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Teaching Ideas

Tips for Teachers

There is no teacher's guide for this simulation.

Ideas and Activities for this Sim

There are 24 contributions listed.

Ascending Sort (Z-A)Title Author Level Type Updated
Concept questions for physics using PhET (Inquiry Based) Designed by PhET IconImage of Gold StarT. LoebleinUG-Intro
HS		CQs6/09
EM wave analogy tutorial Designed by PhET IconImage of Gold StarN. PodolefksyUG-IntroLab6/08
Finding Wave Properties K. KingHSLab4/08
Investigating waves N. FlowersHSLab4/08
Modeling: deriving "v =(wavelength)(f); et al. T. EganHSLab5/09
Reflection and Interference of Waves P. WilliamsUG-IntroLab1/09
Slinky Lab With PhET Waves Simulation C. BiresHSLab3/09
Standing Waves S. GrahamHSLab9/07
Virtual Ripple Tank C. YoungHSLab9/07
Wave clicker questions (Inquiry Based) Designed by PhET IconT. LoebleinHS
UG-Intro		CQs11/08
Wave demonstrations: water, sound, light (Inquiry Based) Designed by PhET IconImage of Gold StarT. LoebleinUG-Intro
HS		Demo
CQs		11/08
Wave Motion U. unknownHSHW4/08
Wave on a String G. SwansonHSLab9/07
Wave on a String Comparison C. millerHSLab3/07
Wave on a String Simulation S. PenningtonHSLab
CQs		5/08
Wave on a string--the basics C. CochranMSLab2/08
Wave unit (Inquiry Based) Designed by PhET IconT. LoebleinUG-Intro
HS		CQs
Demo
Lab		11/08
Waves R. KennedyHSLab5/07
Waves & The Electromagnetic Spectrum Image of Gold StarP. CookHSHW6/09
Waves on a String K. FrettHSLab4/07
Waves on a String (Inquiry Based) Designed by PhET IconImage of Gold StarT. LoebleinUG-Intro
HS		Lab
CQs		11/08
Waves on a String Applications of Sinusoidal Functions to Model A. SokolowskiHSLab11/08
Waves on a String Discovery Activity L. AndersenHSLab9/07
Waves Review M. GalloHSHW
Lab		2/08

Submit Your Ideas & Activities

Note: The maximum file size is 64M, with a maximum upload of 64M at a time.

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Check the PhET design guidelines (PDF)

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Software Requirements

Flash Icon

Windows Systems Macintosh Systems Linux Systems
Microsoft Windows 98SE/2000/XP/Vista
Macromedia Flash 8 or later
 OS 10.4 or later
Macromedia Flash 8 or later
 Macromedia Flash 8 or later

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Translated Versions

Run localized Download
Chinese Taiwan Chinese, Taiwan Download
Croatian Croatian Download
Dutch Dutch Download
German German Download
Greek Greek Download
Italian Italian Download
Slovak Slovak Download
Spanish Spanish Download
Vietnamese Vietnamese Download

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Credits

Design Team Third-party Libraries Thanks To
  • Michael Dubson (developer/lead)
  • Interviewer: Wendy Adams
  • Interviewer: Danielle Harlow
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