APPLICATION 1: RIPPLE TANK

A ripple tank is made up of a square and plastic tray with a lamp on top. The
sides of the tray will be slightly higher to prevent the waves produced to be reflected
back from the sides.

A ripple tank has a bar hanging with two strings. A motor will be fixed to the bar,
when the motor is switched on ,it will cause the bar to vibrate.If the bar touches the
surface of the water it will produce longitudinal waves. Similarly if a dipper is fixed and
the bar does not touch the water it will produce circular waves .

A ripple tank is usually used in a physics lab to demonstrate basic wave

properties. All the wave properties like ,reflection ,refraction , interference, and
diffraction can be showed with the use of the ripple tank .

Interference can be showed with a ripple tank. It can be produced by fixing two
dippers on the bar. When switched on ,two circular waves will be produced and it will
interfere. Diagram showing interference are placed in the excerpts.