What is the The Wave Machine?

The below animation and diagram show a wave machine at Stonybrook University in New York. Use your observation of the animation and the labeled diagram below to help you answer the questions that follow.
NGSS Phenomena: A series of waves moving to one side inside of a glass case.
NGSS Phenomena: A series of waves, with a green line going up and down one wave, and a red line going from the top of one wave to the top of next wave.

1. There’s a blue dot in the middle of the gif, and a wave passes this dot every 2 seconds. This is a measure of the wave’s ______.

2. In the second image, the red line and letter A show the .
  • the wavelength
  • wave length
  • the wavelength
  • wave length
  • the wavelength
  • wave length
  • the wavelength
  • wave length
  • the wavelength
  • wave length

3. In the second image, the green line and the letter B show the .
  • ampltude
  • aplitude
  • ampltide
  • amplutide

4. In this example of a wave, a change in amplitude would result in ________.

5. This first wave measures 2 inches from the gray line to the top of the red line. If a larger second wave measured 4 inches from the gray line to the top of the red, then each wave would have more energy than the first wave.

Drag the answers below into the grey placeholders above

two times
eight times
four times
sixteen times

6. These waves we’re observing are coming approximately every 2 seconds. If a second set of the same sized waves started coming every 4 seconds, this would transfer energy.

Drag the answers below into the grey placeholders above

half as much
1/4 as much
the same
twice as much

7. Frequency is how and period is how .

Drag the answers below into the grey placeholders above

much time passes between waves
powerful the waves are
often the waves pass
tall the waves are

8.
The animation and labeled diagram show a wave machine at Stonybrook University in New York. A simple wave has a repeating pattern with a specific wavelength, frequency, and amplitude. First, explain why these models are ideal to demonstrate these properties of a wave. Then use the data table to identify which property (wavelength, frequency, or amplitude) represents which line of data.

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This multiple choice question aligns to the following standards

  • PS4.A: Wave Properties

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  • Patterns

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  • PS4.A: Wave Properties

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  • PS4.A: Wave Properties

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  • PS4.A: Wave Properties

  • MS-PS4-1

  • Patterns

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This matching question aligns to the following standards

  • PS4.A: Wave Properties

This free response question aligns to the following standards

  • PS4.A: Wave Properties

  • Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking

  • Patterns

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