Wave Speed, Frequency and Wavelength

Lab Brief #5

🎯 Your mission

Set it up. Test it. Be amazed.

⚡ The twist

Nature loves to surprise the careful watcher.

What you'll learn

Every wave obeys v = fλ. In one medium the speed is fixed, so raising the frequency shortens the wavelength by exactly the same factor. That single equation covers sound, light, water ripples and seismic waves alike.

Key words

wave equation
v = fλ, linking wave speed, frequency and wavelength.
hertz
The unit of frequency: one complete oscillation per second.

Make a hypothesis first

Before you start: write down what you think will happen, and why.

Say your guess out loud — then find out if you were right.

Get ready

🧰 What you need

long spring
metre rule
stopwatch

⚠️ Safety first

Hold both ends of the spring firmly — a released spring snaps back hard.

Step 1 of 4 · Read

Think about what you just learned: say what "wave equation" and "hertz" mean in your own words before you start.

Step 2 of 4 · Do

Make waves in a long spring at a steady rate and measure the wavelength against a metre rule while a partner counts oscillations per second. Multiply and repeat at a higher rate.

Step 3 of 4 · Observe

Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.

Step 4 of 4 · Record

Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.

Question 1 of 2

A wave has frequency 25 Hz and wavelength 8 m. Its speed is:

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Question 2 of 2

Doubling the frequency in the same medium makes the wavelength:

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Mind = blown

🔬 The more you look, the more nature shows you.

Nice work!

You got 0 of 2 right.

Next: Transverse and Longitudinal Waves Compared All lessons

🎯

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✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you see this in real life: This shows up in your everyday life more than you'd think.

🏆 Stretch challenge (try it this week): Try one experiment in real life this week — even a tiny one.

👨‍👩‍👧 For the dinner table: “What's the most surprising thing you learned today?”

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Wave Speed, Frequency and Wavelength

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