RIPPLE TANK

INTRODUCTION: -

 RIPPLE TANK is an apparatus which is used to study the features or characteristics of wave’s mechanics.

CONSTRUCTION: -

A ripple tank consists of a rectangular tray containing water. It is provided with a transparent glass sheet at the bottom. A screen is placed well below the tray to observe the characteristics of waves generated in water. A lamp is placed above the tray

WORKING: -   

When an observer dips a rod or his finger into the water of ripple tank, waves are generated. There is also a mechanical way to generate pulses in water i.e. electric motor. The lamp enlightens the waves which are focused on the bottom screen. The wave crests act as converging lenses and tend to focus the light from the lamp. The wave troughs act as diverging lenses and tend to spread it. This results that crests appear as bright bends and troughs as dark bends on the screen.

PRODUCTION OF STRAIGHT RIPPLES: -

 Straight pulses are produced by dipping a finger or a straight rod periodically in water.

PRODUCTION OF CIRCULAR RIPPLES: -  

Circular pulses are produced by dipping the pointed end of a rod periodically in water.

ANALYSIS OF WAVES: -

If straight pulses are generated and a piece of paper is thrown on the surface of water, it is found that the paper simply moves up and down as each of the waves passes across it. By means of a stop watch time period of the rod and paper is measured. The two time periods are found to be equal. This shows that the particles of medium execute simple harmonic motion with the same time period as that of the body generating pulses.