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
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Topics Teaching Ideas Software Requirements Translated Versions Credits

Topics

Main Topics

Waves
Frequency
Amplitude

Sample Learning Goals

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

Teaching Ideas

Tips for Teachers

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Ideas and Activities for this Sim

There are 25 contributions listed.

Title	Author	Level	Type	Updated
Wave on a String Comparison	C. miller	HS	Lab	3/07
Waves on a String	K. Frett	HS	Lab	4/07
Waves	R. Kennedy	HS	Lab	5/07
Virtual Ripple Tank	C. Young	HS	Lab	9/07
Standing Waves	S. Graham	HS	Lab	9/07
Waves on a String Discovery Activity	L. Andersen	HS	Lab	9/07
Wave on a String	G. Swanson	HS	Lab	9/07
Waves Review	M. Gallo	HS	HW Lab	2/08
Wave on a string--the basics	C. Cochran	MS	Lab	2/08
Investigating waves	N. Flowers	HS	Lab	4/08
Finding Wave Properties	K. King	HS	Lab	4/08
Wave Motion	U. unknown	HS	HW	4/08
Wave on a String Simulation	S. Pennington	HS	Lab CQs	5/08
EM wave analogy tutorial	N. Podolefksy	UG-Intro	Lab	6/08
Wave clicker questions (Inquiry Based)	T. Loeblein	HS UG-Intro	CQs	11/08
Wave demonstrations: water, sound, light (Inquiry Based)	T. Loeblein	UG-Intro HS	Demo CQs	11/08
Waves on a String (Inquiry Based)	T. Loeblein	UG-Intro HS	Lab CQs	11/08
Reflection and Interference of Waves	P. Williams	UG-Intro	Lab	1/09
Slinky Lab With PhET Waves Simulation	C. Bires	HS	Lab	3/09
Modeling: deriving "v =(wavelength)(f); et al.	T. Egan	HS	Lab	5/09
Waves & The Electromagnetic Spectrum	P. Cook	HS	HW	6/09
Concept questions for Physics using PhET (Inquiry Based)	T. Loeblein	UG-Intro HS	CQs	8/09
Wave unit (Inquiry Based)	T. Loeblein	UG-Intro HS	CQs Lab Demo	8/09
Applications of Sinusoidal Functions to Model	A. Sokolowski	HS	Lab	8/09
Sound Virtual Practical Activity	B. Carpenter	HS	Lab	9/09

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Software Requirements

Windows Systems	Macintosh Systems	Linux Systems
Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7 Macromedia Flash 8 or later Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 or later, or Firefox 2 or later	OS 10.4.11 or later Macromedia Flash 8 or later Safari 2 or later, or Firefox 2 or later	Macromedia Flash 8 or later Firefox 2 or later

Translated Versions

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