Wave Addition Simulation

When two or more waves meet up with each other while moving through the same medium, interference occurs. When you try to observe this phenomenon in real life, the two waves become lost in one another and it becomes difficult to perceive the principles that underlie the phenomenon. But this simulation comes to the rescue, allowing the learner to step through in slow motion and view the individual waves and the resulting shape of the medium. So drop that Slinky for a moment; you can get back to it later. But for now, take some time to explore the Wave Addition simulation and find out what is happening when you and your friend give each end a shake.

The Interactive provides the learner with a rich environment for exploring nearly all things that one might want to know about basic waves and their interference phenomenon. Study quantitative relationships and patterns between wavelength, frequency, speed, and amplitude. Compare longitudinal and transverse waves. Study constructive and destructive interference. Learn how a standing wave is formed. View beat patterns and manipulate them by altering the frequency of the interfering waves. These are just a few of the variety of things that you can do with this virtual wave environment. Launch it and explore.

https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Interactives/Waves-and-Sound/Wave-Addition

Electromagnetic Spectrum - The Ultimate Infographic

One of our all-time favorite posts is this post about the EM Spectrum infographic. And from time to time, we repost it here on our social media sites. Nearly every high school physics course has a unit on the topic of light. And a central part of that unit is the behavior of light as a wave - an electromagnetic wave. A centerpiece of this discussion is usually a graphic showing the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum. The entire spectrum is divided into regions with popular names such as X-ray region, ultraviolet region, visible light region, infrared region, microwave region, etc. The most elaborate representation of the spectrum can be found on Flickr at 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/llnl/9403051123/sizes/l/

The infographic portrays the various regions, their wavelengths and frequencies, the characteristics and uses, the source and origin, and so much more. There is enough physics in this graphic to fuel several weeks’ worth of studies.

Finally, if you would like to see the infographic come alive, visit the interactive version of it at the Physics Interactives section of our website.

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Interactives/Light-and-Color/Electromagnetic-Spectrum

Three Great Waves Interactives

Watch it. Interact with it. Change a variable and observe the result. Explore and learn. These are the types of tasks that learners engage in when they're face-to-face with one of our Interactives. These variable-rich environments allow a learner to observe physics principles and draw their own conclusions about the manner In which the physical world operates. Today we feature three such simulations pertaining to the topic of Waves and Sound:

1. Slinky Lab

Grab a particle on a string and start wiggling it back and forth. Watch as the disturbance you create travels from particle to particle. Explore the result of wiggling more or less frequently or with a smaller or larger amplitude. Change the amount of damping effects and other variables. You'll have so much fun with Slinky Lab that you might forget that you're learning physics.

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Interactives/Waves-and-Sound/Slinky-Lab

2. Wave Simulator

Prepare yourself because you are about to observe a virtual wave machine. You can set it vibrating at any frequency and any amplitude you wish. You can even view it simulating a sound wave. Watch it vibrate in slow motion. Watch it in fast motion. Watch it in real time. And watch the clock because you're going to be so captivated that you might be late for your next class.

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Interactives/Waves-and-Sound/Simple-Wave-Simulator

3. Standing Wave Maker

If you have ever seen a standing wave demonstration, then you have seen the definition of groovy (excuse the 80s term). And groovy is what you will see when you open this simulation. Make standing waves from several pre-set conditions or set the conditions yourself. View two waves traveling in opposite directions and the standing wave pattern that results from their interference. Don't forget to say Groovy!

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Interactives/Waves-and-Sound/Standing-Wave-Patterns

Have you used Desmos - an online graphing calculator - to demonstrate physical principles? You might wish to try The Physics Classroom's Standing Wave Formation Desmos file to demonstrate the formation of standing waves by the superposition of two interfering waves. It's HTML5 - works on tablets such as the iPad, Chromebooks, and smart phones. See

https://www.desmos.com/calculator/65ycbghqli‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Simple Wave Simulator Interactive

 

The Simple Wave Simulator Interactive provides the learner with a virtual wave machine for exploring the nature of a wave, quantitative relationships between wavelength, frequency and speed, and comparisons between transverse waves such as those traveling through a rope and longitudinal waves such as sound. The Interactive is accompanied by a classroom-ready activity that guides students to an understanding of strategic wave concepts.

https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Interactives/Waves-and-Sound/Simple-Wave-Simulator

Electromagnetic Spectrum Interactive

The Electromagnetic Spectrum Interactive Infographic is full of information about electromagnetic waves. There's so much to explore and digest that it will take several sittings before you're satisfied. And even then, you're likely to return for more. Originally created in 1944 as a wall-sized poster distributed by the W.M. Welch Scientific Company (a scientific supply house that has sinced closed its doors). This timeless piece of science and art is now available as an interactive app that allows learners to tap and explore its many layers of information.

https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Interactives/Light-and-Color/Electromagnetic-Spectrum

Circuits Interactive

This time of year one of the most popular Interactives found at our website is DC Circuit Builder. This HTML5 simulation provides a learner with a virtual circuit builder in order to build and explore circuit concepts. DC Circuit Builder can be used to explore simple, series, parallel, and compound circuits. Building a circuit is as easy as dragging batteries, light bulbs, resistors and wires onto the workspace. A learner can even include voltmeters and ammeters in the circuit for a quantitative exploration. Being an HTML5 simulation, it is compatible with tablets such as the iPad, with Chromebooks, and with all mobile devices. Learners can open the simulation and begin exploring quite easily. Or for a more directed experience, a learner or a classroom of learners can use any one or all of the five classroom-ready exercises that has been prepared by The Physics Classroom. Enjoy the DC Circuit Builder at … 

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Interactives/Electric-Circuits/Circuit-Builder

Four Great Static Electricity Interactives

Whether you're a teacher or a learner, these four simulations will help bring understanding and visualization of physics concepts.

Aluminum Can Polarization

The Aluminum Can Polarization Interactive allows learners to visualize the underlying cause for the attraction between a charged and an uncharged object. The uncharged object is an aluminum can at rest on a level surface. The charged object is either a glass rod or a rubber rod. The charged object can be brought near to the uncharged object and the resulting interaction is clearly observed. But more importantly, the response of electrons within the aluminum can is depicted in the animation.

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Interactives/Static-Electricity/Aluminum-Can-Polarization

Charging

The Charging Interactive allows users to explore charge interactions, the charging of objects by conduction and induction, and the grounding of objects. The Interactive is accompanied by a challenging game as a follow-up activity to the learning experience.

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Interactives/Static-Electricity/Charging

Name That Charge

The Name That Charge Interactive is a skill building exercise that provides the learner with an interactive self-assessment of electrostatic charging methods. The Interactive presents seven different situations, provides animations of each situation, and asks the learner to identify the type of charge present on the objects as the result of the charging process. 

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Interactives/Static-Electricity/Name-That-Charge

Coulomb's Law

The Coulomb/s Law Interactive allows learners to explore the force of attraction or repulsion between two charged objects. The quantity of charge on the objects can be varied by dragging a slider. And the objects can be dragged closer together or further apart. The distance between objects can be measured using a built-in measuring tool.

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Interactives/Static-Electricity/Coulomb-s-Law

Four Great Static Electricity Interactives

Whether you're a teacher or a learner, these four simulations will help bring understanding and visualization of physics concepts.

Aluminum Can Polarization

The Aluminum Can Polarization Interactive allows learners to visualize the underlying cause for the attraction between a charged and an uncharged object. The uncharged object is an aluminum can at rest on a level surface. The charged object is either a glass rod or a rubber rod. The charged object can be brought near to the uncharged object and the resulting interaction is clearly observed. But more importantly, the response of electrons within the aluminum can is depicted in the animation.

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Interactives/Static-Electricity/Aluminum-Can-Polarization

Charging

The Charging Interactive allows users to explore charge interactions, the charging of objects by conduction and induction, and the grounding of objects. The Interactive is accompanied by a challenging game as a follow-up activity to the learning experience.

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Interactives/Static-Electricity/Charging

Name That Charge

The Name That Charge Interactive is a skill building exercise that provides the learner with an interactive self-assessment of electrostatic charging methods. The Interactive presents seven different situations, provides animations of each situation, and asks the learner to identify the type of charge present on the objects as the result of the charging process. 

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Interactives/Static-Electricity/Name-That-Charge

Coulomb's Law

The Coulomb/s Law Interactive allows learners to explore the force of attraction or repulsion between two charged objects. The quantity of charge on the objects can be varied by dragging a slider. And the objects can be dragged closer together or further apart. The distance between objects can be measured using a built-in measuring tool.

http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Interactives/Static-Electricity/Coulomb-s-Law

The Physics Interactives

Have you tried a Physics Interactive lately? The Physics Interactives section of our website is comprised of a collection of HTML5 interactive pages that allow a user to explore a physics concept. Some Interactives are simulations that allow a user to manipulate an environment and observe the effect of changes in variables upon the simulation. Other Interactives are skill building exercises in which a user practices a skill that is crucial to learning some aspect of physics. And still other Interactives provide game-like environments that require the user to use a physics concept to meet a challenge. The Interactives are intended to be used by the individual student or learner who is attempting to further understand the concept or by a teacher-led classroom as part of a lesson or homework assignment. Most of the Interactives are accompanied by an activity sheet that suggests ways to use the Interactive. We have Interactives on a broad array of topics. There’s likely one waiting for you today. Why not check them out at …

https://www.physicsclassroom.com/Physics-Interactives