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Lesson: Chapter 4 — Waves and their applications

4.1. Mechanical waves 1 of 2

A wave along a slinky

Wave motion can be shown with a slinky — a long, loose spring made from a coil of metal wire.

Figure to be added

Figure 4.3 — a slinky stretched out along a table, held at one end by a hand.

Activity 4.1

You will need: a slinky

  • Lay the slinky along a long table.
  • Hold one end and move it from side to side across the table top.

Figure to be added

Figure 4.4 — a wave travelling along a slinky on a table; an arrow along the table shows the direction the wave moves.

The observation

A wave can be seen travelling along the slinky, away from the hand.