Introduction
A wave is different from a particle because it can move between two locations without any matter moving from one place to another. Instead wave motion involves only the transmission of energy. Suppose the ends of a long stretched slinky are clamped and two wave pulses travel toward each other in opposite directions.
Objectives
In this activity, you will
- Explore what happens before, during, and after these pulses meet.
- Learn about the principle of wave superposition.
Sensors and Equipment
This experiment features the following sensors and equipment. Additional equipment may be required.
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This experiment is #20 of Physics with Video Analysis. The experiment in the book includes student instructions as well as instructor information for set up, helpful hints, and sample graphs and data.
