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Home Interactives Sounds Waves Ripple Tank Simulator Notes

Ripple Tank Simulator Notes

Notes:

The Ripple Tank Interactive is an adjustable-size file that displays nicely on smart phones, on tablets such as the iPad, on Chromebooks, and on laptops and desktops. The size of the Interactive can be scaled to fit the device that it is displayed on. The compatibility with smart phones, iPads, other tablets, and Chromebooks make it a perfect tool for use in a 1:1 classroom.
 

Teaching Ideas and Suggestions:

The Ripple Tank Interactive is a quick simulation to explore the relationship between the path difference, the wavelength, and the location on a nodal or antinodal line of the pattern. The sources of waves can be moved about the simulation window, increasing or decreasing their separation distance. The effect of such changes on the interference pattern is immediately obvious. Students can tap on any point on the pattern and view the distance of that point to both of the sources ... measured as a multiple number of the wavelength. The path difference is also displayed. The hoped-for discovery is that the path difference is a whole- or a half-number of wavelengths for points located on the nodal or antinodal lines.

We recommend spending a short amount of time here in order to make that discovery. Then navigate to the Two Point Source Interference Patterns Interactive in order to learn more about two-point source interference.
 

Related Resources:

There are several resources at The Physics Classroom website that serve as very complementary supports for the Ripple Tank Interactive. These include:
  • Physics Video Tutorial:
    We have developed a rather thorough collection of video tutorials on physics topics. Our Light Waves section consists of 13 videos. Three videos align well with this simulation and the broader topic of Young's experiment.

    Anatomy of a Two-Point Source Interference Pattern

    Path Difference and Wavelength

    Young's Equation and Young's Experiment

    Visit the Physics Video Tutorial

     
  • The Calculator Pad:
    The Calculator Pad includes a collection of interactive problem sets. Numerical information in the problems is randomized such that two side-by-side students are likely to get the same problem with difference numbers. Students can submit their answers and receive immediate feedback and opportunities to correct their mistakes. The resource is free-for-use. Teachers with a Task Tracker subscription have the added advantage of customizing the problem sets, assigning them to their classes, saving student progress, and accessing student scores. Problem Sets LW6 - LW10 in the Light Waves section coordinates well with this interactive and the broader topic of Young's experiment.
     
  • Labwork:
    Simulations should always support (never supplant) hands-on learning. The Laboratory section of The Physics Classroom website includes several hands-on ideas that complement this Interactive. Three notable lab ideas include ...

    Ripple Tank Lab
    Two-Point Source Analysis Lab
    Young's Experiment Lab

    You will find these in the Light and Color section of The Laboratory. Visit The Laboratory. Teacher Guides are available.

Additional resources and ideas for incorporating the Ripple Tank Interactive into an instructional unit on Light and Color can be found at the Teacher Toolkits section of The Physics Classroom website. Visit Teacher Toolkits.

Visit: Ripple Tank Simulator Interactive