1. How does the wave behave without the added weight (such as the jelly beans)?

How does it behave

with the added weight?

➔ Without added weight, the waves in a wave machine travel smoothly and consistently along the
interconnected rods or strings. The waves have a steady speed, a regular height, and maintain their
shape throughout the medium.

➔ With added weight, like jelly beans, the waves in the wave machine change their behavior. They can
bounce back and forth, creating patterns known as standing waves. The height of the waves may
decrease over time due to the weight absorbing some energy. The frequency or wavelength of the waves
can also be altered by the presence of weight.

2. Do you think the wave machine generated a longitudinal wave? Why?

➔ No, the wave generated in a wave machine is not a longitudinal wave but rather a transverse wave. A
longitudinal wave is characterized by particle oscillations that occur parallel to the direction of wave
propagation. And since the motion in a wave machine is perpendicular to the wave's direction of
propagation, the wave machine generates a transverse wave rather than a longitudinal wave.

3. If you tap the wave machine as weakly as possible, will it generate the same wave speed as if you
tapped it strongly? Explain.

➔ If you tap the wave machine as weakly as possible or tap it strongly, it is unlikely to affect the speed of
the waves generated. The speed of the waves in a wave machine primarily depends on the properties of
the medium and not on the strength of the initial disturbance. The speed of waves in a medium is
determined by factors such as the tension in the rods or strings, the density of the material, and the
elastic properties of the medium. These properties influence how quickly the waves can propagate
through the medium.

Conclusion:

➔ In conclusion, a wave machine is a device that shows how waves behave. Without added weight, the
waves move smoothly and keep their shape. With added weight, the waves may bounce back and create
patterns, and their size may decrease over time. The wave machine generates transverse waves, where
the waves move up and down or side to side. The strength of the initial tap doesn't affect the speed of
the waves; it depends on the properties of the material. The wave machine helps us understand how
waves work in a visual way.