Spec statements

Describe a method to measure the speed of ripples on a water surface.

Required practical activity 8: make observations to identify the

suitability of apparatus to measure the frequency, wavelength and
speed of waves in a ripple tank and waves in a solid and take
appropriate measurements.
Frequency in Hz

Wave speed in m/s

Wavelength in m

Frequency × wavelength
Ripple tank required practical 24/04/2024

WALT: Confidently describe the ripple tank required practical

Retrieval Starter Questions: 5 minutes in any order! Bronze = 1 point, silver = 3 points & gold = 5 points

1. (RECALL) the wave speed equation, the formula

triangle and all units.
2. (RECALL) the unit of internal energy.
3. (DESCRIBE/DEFINE) the internal energy of a
substance. Include what energies are involved.
4. (CALCULATE) the frequency of a 1km wave
travelling at 100m/s. Formula, working, answer
and units.
Success Criteria:
• List equipment required
• Outline a method to gather valid data
• Evaluate the method, identifying error and suggesting solutions
Retrieval Starter Questions:

1. (RECALL) the wave speed equation, the formula triangle and

all units.
V = fλ m/s = Hz x m

2. (RECALL) the unit of internal energy.

Joule (J)
3. (DESCRIBE/DEFINE) the internal energy of a substance. Include what energies are
involved.
Internal energy = kinetic energy of the particle + potential energy due to
bonds and position
4. (CALCULATE) the frequency of a 1km wave travelling at 100m/s. Formula, working,
answer and units.

f=v/λ f = 100 / 1000 f = 0.1 Hz

Context: Ripple tank required practical
The ripple tank required practical is designed for you to investigate the speed of
water waves. It will give you an opportunity to observe how the speed of water
waves changes with depth of water. It will also give you the opportunity to use the
wave equation you learnt last lesson.

Links to Future Learning:

Links to Prior Learning: • Multiple waves lessons in this
• KS3 Waves topic
• KS5: Waves

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SEE/TRY Ripple tank required practical – the speed of water waves
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zgf97p3/revision/4

Task

Write a minimum of three

notes for every video
minute.

Minimum of 12 notes!
 SEE Method – Part 1
Equipment + Ripple tank plus accessories + Power supply + Metre ruler + Stopclock

The objective is to measure the speed of the waves. We need the wavelength and
frequency to do this (v = f λ)

Three simple steps = (1) find wavelength  (2) find frequency  (3) use v = f λ

Set up the ripple tank according to the diagram and switch in the motor.

Finding the wavelength

1. Place a metre ruler at right angles to the waves shown in the pattern on the card.
2. Measure across as many waves as possible.
3. Then divide that length by the number of waves. This gives the wavelength of the waves.

Example – if we measure 10 waves as 1m, Wavelength = 1/10 = 0.1m

 TRY Method – Part 1
1) Select four pieces of equipment + Newton meter + Ripple tank plus
accessories + Trundle wheel + Power supply + Metre ruler + Stopclock

The objective is to measure the speed of the waves. We need the wavelength and
frequency to do this (v = f λ)

Three simple steps = find wavelength  find frequency  use v = f λ

Set up the ripple tank according to the diagram and switch on the motor.

2) Write the three steps below in the correct order

Finding the wavelength
+ Then divide that length by the number of waves. This gives the wavelength of the waves.
+ Place a metre ruler at right angles to the waves shown in the pattern on the card.
+ Measure across as many waves as possible.

Example – if we measure 10 waves as 1m, one wavelength = 1/10 = 0.1m

 TRY Method – Part 1
1) Select four pieces of equipment + Newton meter + Ripple tank plus
accessories + Trundle wheel + Power supply + Metre ruler + Stopclock

The objective is to measure the speed of the waves. We need the wavelength and
frequency to do this (v = f λ)

Three simple steps = find wavelength  find frequency  use v = f λ

Set up the ripple tank according to the diagram and switch on the motor.

2) Write the three steps below in the correct order

Finding the wavelength
+ Place a metre ruler at right angles to the waves shown in the pattern on the card.
+ Measure across as many waves as possible.
+ Then divide that length by the number of waves. This gives the wavelength of the waves.

Example – if we measure 10 waves as 1m, one wavelength = 1/10 = 0.1m

 SEE Method – Part 2 and 3
Finding the frequency
1. Count the number of waves passing a point in the pattern
over a given time (say 10 seconds).

2. Then divide the number of waves counted by 10. This gives

the frequency of the waves.

Example – Frequency = 10 waves/10 seconds = 1Hz

Calculating wave speed

3. Calculate the speed of the waves using the equation:

wave speed = frequency ´ wavelength

 TRY Method – part 2 and 3
Write out the following and fill in the gaps

Finding the frequency

1. Count the number of waves passing a point in the pattern
over a given time (say …….. seconds).

2. Then …………… the number of waves counted by 10. This

gives the …………… of the waves.

Example – Frequency = 10 waves/10 seconds = ……Hz Keyterms

1 / Divide / 10 / frequency / wavelength

Calculating wave speed
3. Calculate the speed of the waves using the equation:

wave speed = frequency ´ ……………

 TRY Method – Part 2 and 3
Write out the following and fill in the gaps
Finding the wavelength
1. Count the number of waves passing a point in the pattern
over a given time (say 10 seconds).

2. Then divide the number of waves counted by 10. This gives

the frequency of the waves.

Example – Frequency = 10 waves/10 seconds = 1Hz

Keyterms
Calculating wave speed
1 / Divide / 10 / frequency / wavelength
3. Calculate the speed of the waves using the equation:

wave speed = frequency ´ wavelength

 SEE Sources of error
Error cannot be avoided in experiments!

Error is always introduced when you make a measurement.

Errors in measurement can give values that are too large or too
small.

Example – is this 7.5cm or 8cm?

Talking pairs – where are the possible sources of

error in the ripple tank experiment?
 SEE Sources of error
Possible answers include:

1) Error (λ) - Difficulty in measuring wavelength due to moving

waves being difficult to make out.

Solution – Measure the greatest overall length possible, to

include more waves.

2) Error (λ)- Difficulty counting the number of waves included in

the overall length measurement because waves difficult to see.

Solution – Maximise the amount of waves you measure across.

3) Error (f) – Difficultly counting accurately the number of waves

passing a point over a period of time because waves move
rapidly and are difficult to see.

Solution – maximise the time you count for. 10 seconds

minimum.
TRY/APPLY Sources of error Tip – three main sources of error, two for
wavelength and one for frequency.

Difficulty in measuring wavelength due to…

Measure the greatest overall…

Difficulty counting the number of…

Maximise the amount of…

Difficultly counting accurately the number of waves passing a…

Maximise the…
TRY/APPLY Sources of error Tip – three main sources of error, two for
wavelength and one for frequency.

Difficulty in measuring wavelength due to moving waves being difficult to make out.

Measure the greatest overall length possible, to include more waves.

Difficulty counting the number of waves included in the overall length measurement because waves difficult to see.

Maximise the amount of waves you measure across

Difficultly counting accurately the number of waves passing a point over a period of

time because waves move rapidly and are difficult to see.

Maximise the time you count for. 10 seconds minimum.

 APPLY
A tsunami is a large water wave that can be devastating
when it reaches land. The tsunami wave slows down as it
approaches the shore but the height of the wave
increases and the wave can be tens of metres tall when it
reaches land. It has been difficult to forewarn of a tsunami
because the approaching wave might have only been a
few centimetres high in the deep ocean.

A researcher carried out an experiment to determine

how the speed of water waves depends on the depth Depth in cm 1 2 3 4 5 6
of the water. Their results are shown in the table
below. Wave speed 0.31 0.44 0.54 0.63 0.70 0.77
in m/s

Wave speed increases as the water becomes deeper (1)

but this relationship is not linear (1).

 APPLY
A tsunami is a large water wave that can be devastating
when it reaches land. The tsunami wave slows down as it
approaches the shore but the height of the wave
increases and the wave can be tens of metres tall when it
reaches land. It has been difficult to forewarn of a tsunami
because the approaching wave might have only been a
few centimetres high in the deep ocean.

A researcher carried out an experiment to determine

how the speed of water waves depends on the depth Depth in cm 1 2 3 4 5 6
of the water. Their results are shown in the table
below. Wave speed 0.31 0.44 0.54 0.63 0.70 0.77
in m/s

The evidence does support the fact that a tsunami slows down in shallower water (1).

It shows a positive correlation between water depth and wave speed (1).
 SECURE

1) Write a method to determine

the speed of water waves using
a ripple tank. You should:

a) List equipment
b) Identify what measurements
you will take
c) Outline a method
d) Discuss sources of error and
how you will minimise these.
 SECURE

Equipment + Ripple tank plus accessories + Power

supply + Metre ruler + Stopclock
Finding the wavelength
1. Place a metre ruler at right angles to the waves shown in the pattern on the card.
2. Measure across as many waves as possible.
3. Then divide that length by the number of waves. This gives the wavelength of the waves.
Finding the frequency
1. Count the number of waves passing a point in the pattern over a given time (say 10
seconds).

2. Then divide the number of waves counted by 10. This gives the frequency of the waves.
Calculating wave speed
3. Calculate the speed of the waves using the equation: wave speed =
frequency ´ wavelength
 SECURE

Possible answers include:

1) Error (λ) - Difficulty in measuring wavelength due to moving waves being difficult to make
out.

Solution – Measure the greatest overall length possible, to include more waves.

2) Error (λ)- Difficulty counting the number of waves included in the overall length
measurement because waves difficult to see.

Solution – Maximise the amount of waves you measure across.

3) Error (f) – Difficultly counting accurately the number of waves passing a point over a
period of time because waves move rapidly and are difficult to see.

Solution – maximise the time you count for. 10 seconds minimum.