012-09267 Physics Experiment Manual 49 General Properties of Waves

General Properties of Waves

(WAVEPORT)

Waves and Sound: General wave properties DataStudio file: 49 Wave Properties.ds

Equipment List

Qty Items Part Numbers

1 WAVEPORT Software CI-6872

Introduction
The purpose of this activity is to investigate the relationships of wave speed, wavelength, period,
and frequency for sound waves. Use the Sound Creator part of the WAVEPORT software
program.
Background
Sound waves are longitudinal waves that propagate
through a material medium (solid, liquid, or gas) at a
wave speed that depends on several properties of that
medium. The wave speed in air is 343 m/s at a
temperature of 20˚C.
In addition to wave speed, other wave characteristics are amplitude, period, frequency, and
wavelength. Amplitude is associated with the energy of a sound wave. Period is the amount of
time for one full wave to occur. Frequency is the number of waves per unit of time. Frequency,
and period are reciprocals. Wavelength is associated with how far a wave propagates in a single
period.
Wave speed can be calculated from wavelength and frequency or wavelength and period.
where v is wave speed,  is wavelength, f is frequency, and T is period.
Prediction
For a sound wave, what happens to the sound when the amplitude is changed? How are
wavelength and frequency related? What happens to the pitch of a sound when the wavelength is
changed?
Setup
Start DataStudio and open the file labeled 49 Wave Properties.ds. This file allows you to hear
the changes in a sound when you adjust the amplitude, wavelength, or frequency.
Procedure
Using Sound Creator
The buttons at the top of the Sound Creator window control the frequency. The speaker icon on
the left turns the sound on or off. The scale at the bottom of the window expands or shrinks
the amount of the waveform you see. Click a number on the scale and slide right or left to
adjust the view.
Control wavelength
Control amplitude

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The hand icon at the top (crest) of the waveform controls the amplitude. Click and drag it up or
down to increase or decrease the amplitude. The hand icon at the bottom (trough) of the
waveform controls the wavelength. Click and drag it to the right to increase the wavelength.
Click and drag it to the left to decrease the wavelength.
Change the
Amplitude
Click the speaker
icon to start the
sound. Notice that the
speaker icon and the
waveform change
color when the
sound is on.
Click and drag the
amplitude control
down and then back up.
Questions About
Amplitude
1. What happens to the
loudness of the sound when the amplitude is
decreased?
2. What happens to the loudness of the sound when the amplitude is increased?
3. Does anything else happen to the sound when the amplitude is changed?
Return the amplitude to its original value.

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Change the Wavelength

Click and drag the wavelength control to the right to increase the wavelength. Notice what
happens to the pitch or frequency of the sound.
Click and drag the wavelength control to the left to decrease the wavelength. Again, notice what
happens to the frequency of the sound.
Click the speaker icon to turn the sound off.
Questions About Wavelength
4. What happens to the frequency of the sound when the wavelength is increased?
5. What happens to the frequency of the sound when the wavelength is decreased?
6. Does anything else happen to the sound when the wavelength is changed?

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Lab Report: General Properties of Waves

Name: ________________________________________________________________
Questions About Amplitude
1. What happens to the loudness of the sound when the amplitude is decreased?

7. What happens to the loudness of the sound when the amplitude is increased?

8. Does anything else happen to the sound when the amplitude is changed?

Questions About Wavelength

9. What happens to the frequency of the sound when the wavelength is increased?

10. What happens to the frequency of the sound when the wavelength is decreased?

11. Does anything else happen to the sound when the wavelength is changed?

Conclusions
12. What is the relationship between amplitude of a wave and the loudness of the sound?

13. What is the relationship between the wavelength of a wave and the frequency of the
sound?

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Teacher Notes

Time Estimates Preparation: 5 min Activity: 30 min

Objectives
Students will be able to…
1. use the WAVEPORT Sound Creator to produce and analyze a sound.
2. adjust the amplitude and wavelength of the sound.
3. determine the relationship of amplitude and loudness and the relationship of wavelength to frequency.
Introduction
The Sound Creator part of the WAVEPORT software program can produce up to four tones
simultaneously. In addition to the amplitude and wavelength controls, you can also use a ‘phase’
control.
Please be aware that the waveform in Sound Creator shows a transverse wave, although the
sound is a longitudinal wave. Remind students that the sine-like waveform represents what the
electrical signal from a microphone might look like.
Questions About Amplitude
1. What happens to the loudness of the sound when the amplitude is decreased?
The loudness of the sound decreases when the amplitude decreases.
14. What happens to the loudness of the sound when the amplitude is increased?
The loudness of the sound increases when the amplitude increases.
15. Does anything else happen to the sound when the amplitude is changed?
Nothing else about the sound changes when the amplitude changes.
Questions About Wavelength
16. What happens to the frequency of the sound when the wavelength is increased?
The frequency of the sound decreases (gets lower) when the wavelength increases.
17. What happens to the frequency of the sound when the wavelength is decreased?
The frequency of the sound increases (gets higher) when the wavelength decreases.
18. Does anything else happen to the sound when the wavelength is changed?
The sound seems to be louder when the wavength is decreased and the frequency increases, but
the amplitude of the sound remains the same.

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Conclusions
1. What is the relationship between amplitude of a wave and the loudness of the sound?
The amplitude of a wave and the loudness of the sound are directly related.
19. What is the relationship between the wavelength of a wave and the frequency of the
sound?
The wavelength of a wave and the frequency of the sound are inversely related. When the
wavelength increases, the frequency decreases.

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