Wave Machine
The Physics:
The wave machine is a very simple device used to show what waves look
like. It has many long steel rods connected by a thin wire. When you
move the rod on the end, it transmits energy to the other rods through
the wire. The wave shown here is analogous to a sound wave and we can
use it to see what different frequencies look like.
This wave is also similar to the wave you do at sporting events.
Instead of people moving up and down, we have metal rods moving up and
down. In both cases, energy is transmitted in the form of a wave. A
sound wave is similar to this, but in a sound wave the movement is back
and forth instead of up and down.
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Link to Teacher Resources
Page Updated 8/29/08
