Website Detail Page
published by
the Physics Education Technology Project
Available Languages: English, Spanish, Italian
This Flash activity simulates the motion of a vibrating string. Wiggle the end of the string to set up a manual pulse or make waves. Or, choose "Oscillator" and let the simulation create traveling or standing waves. The string is modeled as a series of interacting masses. The tension of the string, damping, and frequency and amplitude of the oscillator can be adjusted. The end can be fixed, loose, or open. Measurements can be made with rulers and a stop watch.
This item is part of a larger collection of simulations developed by the Physics Education Technology project (PhET). The simulations provide animated, interactive, and game-like environments in which students learn through exploration. All of the simulations are freely available from the PhET web site for incorporation into classes. Please note that this resource requires at least version 8 of Flash.
This resource is part of 2 Physics Front Topical Units.
Topic: Wave Energy
Unit Title: Wave Properties: Frequency, Amplitude, Period, Phase A wonderful way to introduce students to properties of waves. As the students open the applet, they are invited to "wiggle" a string to create a wave. They can set amplitude, frequency, damping, and string tension and watch the variable results. Waves can be manually or automatically generated. Finally, students can view the string's vibration with a fixed end, a loose end, or no end. See related teacher-created activity (directly below), developed for use in middle school classrooms with "Wave On a String". Link to Unit:
Topic: Wave Energy
Unit Title: How Waves Move and Interact: Reflection, Refraction, Interference This Java applet simulates wave oscillation by using the mouse to drive the motion of a vibrating string. Students can set amplitude, frequency, damping, and string tension and watch the results. Waves can be manually or automatically generated. Finally, students can view the string's vibration with a fixed end, a loose end, or no end. Link to Unit:
ComPADRE is beta testing Citation Styles!
<a href="http://www.thephysicsfront.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=3576">Physics Education Technology Project. PhET Simulation: Wave on a String. Boulder: Physics Education Technology Project, October 1, 2008.</a>
PhET Simulation: Wave on a String (Physics Education Technology Project, Boulder, 2003), WWW Document, (http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/wave-on-a-string).
PhET Simulation: Wave on a String (Physics Education Technology Project, Boulder, 2003), <http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/wave-on-a-string>.
PhET Simulation: Wave on a String. (2008, October 1). Retrieved May 23, 2013, from Physics Education Technology Project: http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/wave-on-a-string
Physics Education Technology Project. PhET Simulation: Wave on a String. Boulder: Physics Education Technology Project, October 1, 2008. http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/wave-on-a-string (accessed 23 May 2013).
PhET Simulation: Wave on a String. Boulder: Physics Education Technology Project, 2003. 1 Oct. 2008. 23 May 2013 <http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/wave-on-a-string>.
@misc{
Title = {PhET Simulation: Wave on a String},
Publisher = {Physics Education Technology Project},
Volume = {2013},
Number = {23 May 2013},
Month = {October 1, 2008},
Year = {2003}
}
%T PhET Simulation: Wave on a String %0 Electronic Source Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.
Citation Source Information
The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual. The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References. The Chicago Style presented is based on information from Examples of Chicago-Style Documentation. The MLA Style presented is based on information from the MLA FAQ. This resource is stored in 24 shared folders. You must login to access shared folders. PhET Simulation: Wave on a String:
Is Supplemented By
PhET Teacher Ideas & Activities: EM Wave Analogy Tutorial
This tutorial was written to supplement the PhET simulation "Wave on a String" to aid students of introductory physics in understanding electromagnetic wave properties. relation by Caroline Hall
Is Supplemented By
PhET Teacher Ideas & Activities: Investigating Waves
This item is a four-page student worksheet developed specifically to accompany "Wave on a String". Appropriate for grades 8-9 physical science. relation by Caroline Hall
Is Supplemented By
PhET Teacher Ideas & Activities: Wave Demonstrations: Water, Sound, Light
A set of inquiry-based classroom demonstrations for high school physics developed to be used with the PhET simulation "Wave on a String". relation by Caroline Hall
Is Supplemented By
PhET Teacher Ideas & Activities: Waves on a String Discovery Activity
A student work activity for grades 9-12 developed specifically to accompany the "Wave on a String" simulation. Freely downloadable and printable for classroom use. relation by Caroline Hall
Is Supplemented By
PhET Teacher Ideas & Activities: Wave on a String--The Basics
This is a student guide/worksheet for middle school level, created specifically for use with the "Wave on a String" simulation. relation by Caroline HallKnow of another related resource? Login to relate this resource to it. |
SupplementsContributeRelated Materials
Is Supplemented By
PhET Teacher Ideas & Activities: EM Wave Analogy Tutorial Is Supplemented ByPhET Teacher Ideas & Activities: Investigating Waves Is Supplemented ByPhET Teacher Ideas & Activities: Wave Demonstrations: Water, Sound, Light Similar MaterialsPhET Simulation: Wave Interference PhET Simulation: Fourier: Making Waves Featured By
Physics To Go |





