04-16-09

Today physics started out rough. Mr. Manning announced a quiz on wavelengths. The quiz dealt with the different kind of waves we have been studying in class such as longitudinal and transverse waves. The quiz had diagrams of these to different waves and we had to lable there different parts like the trough and crest etc etc. After the quiz we segwayed into one of the coolest labs all year, called mechanical wave characteristics. We broke into small groups and divided the problems as a class. Each group surveyed the different components of a wave by observing how a 12-foot spring/slinky acted when plucked and shook. The different types of waves these springs made were really cool to make and see. The patterns and the slinky made as it writhed were not only sweet to see but they also provided us with some important data on how certain waves react in different circumstances. As the class shared what data was gained from the experiments. To enforce what we saw in our slinks, Mr. manning had yet another super expensive gadget to portray his point. This new gadget was a wave machine that portrayed the different mediums and how it changed the speed of a wave. The Mediums absolutely impact the speed of the wave. After this the class walked to the back of the room to see another physical example of waves. This set up was of a slinky attached to rope and the stretched out across the floor. To show more mediums and There impact on wave speed. After all the examples Mr.Manning was done teaching and reminded every one that our roller coasters are going to be due on Friday.