Experiment 3

(Note that you will not be using the PhET simulation for this part.)

Two students are conducting a slinky experiment. They are studying the possible effect of several variables upon the speed of a wave in a slinky. Their data table is shown below. Calculate the speed of each wave, analyze the data, and answer the following questions.

Medium	Wavelength (m)	Frequency (Hz)	Speed (m/s)
Zinc, 1-in dia. Coils	1.75	2.0
Zinc, 1-in dia coils	0.90	3.9
Copper, 1-in dia coils	1.19	2.1
Copper, 1-in dia coils	0.60	4.2
Zinc, 3-in dia coils	1.82	2.2
Zinc, 3-in dia coils	0.95	4.2

Questions:

1. Examine your results closely. Are there any wave speeds that are similar? If so, which types of coil have similar speeds?

2. What variable changes the speed of a wave? Support your answer with your observations noted in the previous question.

3. As a wavelength of a wave in a uniform medium increases, its speed will (increase/remain the same / decrease).

4. As a wavelength of a wave in a uniform medium increases, its frequency will (increase/remain the same / decrease).