Exploring Wave Speed in a Slinky

[runicle]

The speed of a slinky

Questions:
i What happens to the speed of the wave if the material changes (ex. stretched)
ii What happens to the speed of a pulse is reflected off one end of the material.

 

[siddharth]

runicle, what's the formula for a speed of a wave on a string? Can you express it in terms of its mass per unit length and its tension?
So what happens to the tension and mass per unit length if the string is stretched?

 

[quicknote]

The speed of a wave in a slinky is affected by several factors, including the material it is made of and its physical properties. When the slinky is stretched, the speed of the wave will increase due to an increase in tension in the material. This increased tension allows the wave to travel faster through the slinky. Conversely, if the slinky is compressed, the speed of the wave will decrease due to a decrease in tension.

When a pulse is reflected off one end of the slinky, the speed of the wave will remain the same. This is because the speed of a wave is determined by the properties of the material it is traveling through, not the direction in which it is traveling. However, the amplitude of the wave may change as it reflects off the end of the slinky, depending on the material and its properties. This is because some of the energy from the wave may be absorbed or reflected back, causing a change in the size of the wave.

In conclusion, the speed of a wave in a slinky can be affected by changes in the material, such as stretching or compressing, but it will remain constant when reflecting off one end of the material. This demonstrates the importance of understanding the properties of materials in order to accurately predict the behavior of waves.