Compressional Waves Activity
Name_______________________________________Date______Class_______
Slinky:
Take the slinky and stretch it gently across the table with two group members holding it. One group member holds the
slinky still while the other pushes the slinky while holding on to it toward their group member.
1) Draw a model of what the compressional wave looks like as it travels through the slinky.
2) Label the compressions and rarefactions on your model above. Label a wavelength.
3) Now push with a little more force. What do you notice about how the compressions change when you push
with a greater force (greater energy)?
4) Draw a compression model with high energy and with low energy.
On the iPad, go to the EMS Website, 7th grade teacher pages, my name and waves. On week 4 there are links to videos
on waves. Watch the video for the compressional wave. The wave changes frequencies. Keep in mind that the
amplitude of a compressional wave, like a sound wave, is determined by the concentration of molecules in each
compression. The higher the amplitude, or energy that a wave carries, the more compact the molecules are in a
compression. The lower the amplitude, the more spread out those particles are. The amplitude of a compressional
wave, like a sound wave, is determined by the concentration of waves in a compression.
How is frequency related to amplitude?
CONTINUED ON THE BACK…..
1. Compare and contrast your high and low frequency compressional waves from the video. What do you notice?
2. Create a wave that represents a frequency with 2 hz. Draw a picture of that wave below (Use the example with
the dots):
3. Create a wave with a high amplitude and frequency of 3 hz. Draw a picture of that wave below(Use the example
with the dots):
4. Create a wave with a low amplitude and a frequency of 2 hz. Draw a picture of that wave below(Use the
example with the dots):
EXTENSION
1. View the transverse wave with the slinky on the iPad. What do you notice? What are the lines? How is this
different than the compressional wave?
2. What direction does the ribbon move in the video of the regular transverse wave? What is the direction of the
energy? Why is this important?