Page 3 - form 5 physics chapter 1
P. 3
What is a ripple tank?
The phenomenon of water waves can be The water acts as a lens to
investigated using a ripple tank. produce a pattern of bright
The water waves are produced by a and dark regions on a piece of
vibrating bar on the water surface. white paper placed under the
tank when light passes
The tank is leveled so that the depth of through it.
water in the tank is uniform to ensure Water waves have crests and
water waves propagate with uniform troughs.
speed.
A crest is the highest position
of the wave acts as a convex
lens, whereas a trough is the
lowest position acts as a
concave lens.
Light rays from the lamp on
top will focus onto the white
screen below. The bright
lines correspond to the
crests, and the dark lines
correspond to the troughs.
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