Held from midair, the Slinky stretches out, quickly reaching a condition known as “equilibrium.” in which the downward force of gravity is balanced by the upward tension of the coils above it. When the top is released, the bottom stays suspended. The top of the Slinky collapses, so that the coils slam into each other.
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How do slinky demonstrate waves?
What scientific concept can a slinky be used to demonstrate?
A slinky can easily demonstrate the two basic types of waves, longitudinal and transverse. In a longitudinal wave the particles move parallel to the direction the wave is moving. In a transverse wave the particles move at right angles to the direction of wave travel.
What do you observe in the slinky as you push your slinky towards your partner?
Notice that a wave travels along the Slinky from you to your partner. The vibrating parts of the Slinky move back and forth in the same direction as the wave is traveling. This type of wave is called a longitudinal wave, or a compression wave, and it’s a model for seismic primary waves, or P waves.
Why do we use Slinky springs in physics?
A long metal slinky and a longer but smaller metal spring. The slinky can be used to show compression waves and the smaller more sturdy spring can be used to show transverse waves. These are two very long springs (one a slinky) to show wave propagation on a classroom size level.
Why does the bottom of a Slinky not move when dropped?
You are absolutely correct that the bottom of the slinky does not move because the tension of the rest of the slinky pulling up balances the force due to gravity pulling down until the moment that the slinky is fully compressed and the whole thing falls with the acceleration due to gravity.
Is a slinky a mechanical wave?
Slinky waves, water waves, stadium waves, and jump rope waves are other examples of mechanical waves; each requires some medium in order to exist. A slinky wave requires the coils of the slinky; a water wave requires water; a stadium wave requires fans in a stadium; and a jump rope wave requires a jump rope.
How do you make a standing wave with a slinky?
How do you make a longitudinal wave with a slinky?
With one hand, “pop” one end of the slinky with a single, quick, longitudinal shove to create a pulse wave, and watch the pulse travel down the length of the slinky. You can increase (or decrease) the speed of the pulse by changing the tension in the slinky (lengthening or shortening the slinky).
What type of energy does a slinky have?
This compression and extension form a compression wave that travels down the slinky, changing the gravitational potential energy and spring potential energy of the slinky into kinetic energy.
Does a transfer of energy occur in a slinky?
(As the Slinky moves down the steps, kinetic energy is transferred from coil to coil along its length in a longitudinal wave. The speed of the wave depends on the tension and mass of the coil.
Why does a slinky work?
What direction did the wave move when you push and pull the slinky?
In a longitudinal wave the particles are displaced parallel to the direction the wave travels. An example of longitudinal waves is compressions moving along a slinky. We can make a horizontal longitudinal wave by pushing and pulling the slinky horizontally.
What is the direction of the slinky as you move forward and backward?
Figure 11.5 shows a wave moving down a Slinky. Each piece of the Slinky moves back and forth, or left and right, while the wave itself moves along from left to right. In longitudinal waves, the motion of individual pieces of the medium move back and forth along he same direction as the motion of the wave itself.
What happens to the wavelength when you increase the rate of vibration?
After increasing the rate of vibration, the wavelength decreased.
Why does the bottom of a Slinky stay in the air?
A slow motion video shows that the bottom end stays stationary while the top moves towards it. As they meet the collapsed slinky then moves towards the ground. This happens because the bottom end has balanced forces acting upon it (gravity pulling it down and tension in the spring pulling it up).
What happens when a Slinky is dropped?
How many coils are in a Slinky?
tall with 75 ft. of high carbon steel wire arranged in 98 coils. James filed a patent for the toy the same month of its first demonstration, and it was approved in January of 1947. Despite initial retailer reluctance, the Slinky soon found its market and James quit his job to devote all his time to the project.
Can a slinky defy gravity?
Slow motion footage of a falling slinky shows very curious behaviour. The slinky appears to defy gravity. The bottom of the slinky remains stationary, suspended in mid-air until the coils have fully collapsed.
Is a slinky a parabola?
In the case of U-shaped Slinky with equal-height sus- pension points, we obtained its shape and showed that it was a parabola.
How do you make a transverse wave with a slinky toy?
Transverse Waves: To Do and Notice. Hold the Slinky between your hands—it will be horizontal and will sag. Move both of your hands up and down together. Find the lowest frequency that produces the largest motion of the Slinky using the smallest motion of your hands (this should be about one cycle per second.)
What is the medium of a slinky wave?
In the case of our slinky wave, the medium through that the wave travels is the slinky coils. In the case of a water wave in the ocean, the medium through which the wave travels is the ocean water.
What is mechanical wave in physics?
A mechanical wave is a wave that is an oscillation of matter and is responsible for the transfer of energy through a medium. The distance of the wave’s propagation is limited by the medium of transmission. In this case, the oscillating material moves about a fixed point, and there is very little translational motion.
How do you find the amplitude of a slinky?
How do you determine the speed of a slinky wave?
