Ripple tank Experiment

By: Anon Durongpisitkul

 Thanon Thamvorapol

Kimmy Pathanasap

Pajaree Chalongkitcharoen

Suchanuch Putaprapasri

Objective
The main objectives for this experiment is to demonstrate the reflection of a

wave to understand its property and variety of ways that wave patterns can be

generated.
Introduction
Properties of plane waves such as reflection, refraction, interference, and

diffraction can be demonstrated by using the ripple tank experiment. The process of

observation are to create waves and watch the shadow reflected under the tank.

Focusing on the interference on this project, two types of interference are expected,

one is single slit and the other is double slits. The wave generators (which in this

case is a sheet of metal we will repeatedly tap) will create waves, which will pass

through the slit(s).

As wave passes through the slits, they diffract, creating an overlap between

waves and thus generating interference patterns. Another thing to be observed is

reflection. For this experiment, we decided only to observe circular reflection. The

semi-circular aluminum sheet will be the barrier for the wave fronts to reflect off of.

This will make the straight wave reflected and focus onto a point then the straight

wave will change into a circular wave.

To create a ripple tank, use a clear acrylic sheet to make the tank for observing

the reflection of the wave. Different shape of aluminum sheets will be put in one by

one put in to create different wave shapes.

Materials
Acrylic Sheets Acrylic Cutter Acrylic Mate
Stopwatch Sand paper Aluminum Sheet

Tripod

Experiment Setup
 1. Measure 5 sheets of acrylic : 1 sheet of 30 x 40 cm, 2 sheets of 30 x 10 cm,

and 2 sheets of 40 x 10 cm
2. Cut the acrylic sheets with the acrylic cutter.
3. Use sandpaper to scrub all the sides of all acrylic sheets to smoothen and

even out the sides.

4. Prepare 7 sheets of aluminum : 1 sheet of 28 x 10 cm, 2 sheets of 13 x 10

cm, 3 sheets of 8 x 10 cm, and 1 curve sheets with the height of 10 cm and

make half circle of 28 cm diameter

5. Use marker to mark 2 lines, the first line 10 cm apart from the edge and the

second line 5 cm apart from the first line, on the 2 sheets of 30 x 10 cm

6. Use marker to mark another 8 cm line : 15 cm from the edge, onto the 30 x 40

acrylic sheet
7. Use acrylic cutter to cut half into the lines that we mark
8. Stick the aluminum sheets onto the lines : 13 x 10 cm onto the first line, and 8

x 10 cm onto the second and third lines

9. Stick all the acrylic sheets together using acrylic mate, making up a box with

no cover
10. Place the curve aluminum sheet onto the 30 x 40 acrylic sheet next to the
11. Prepare the holder made up of pipe
12. Place the acrylic box onto the holder

Procedure
1. Build the Acrylic tank

2. Set up the slits for one slit interference

3. Use one piece of rectangular metal sheet and tap on the water many times,

observe the wave pattern.

4. Repeat with two slit interference setup.

5. Repeat with circular screen

Data

Type of Norm Singl Doub Picture

Barrier al e slit le slit
interf interf
erenc erenc
e e
None Yes None None

None None Yes None

None None None Yes

Circular None None None

Data Analysis

So as you can see, the pictures arent really clear, mostly because the acrylic

is too dense to let light through so instead of observing the pattern on the tracing

paper below, we had to look at it directly on the tank. But, we did observe the fact

that the waves did refract & changed patterns as it went through the slits, also the

waves properly reflect off the circular screen, proving the property of reflection.

Conclusion

So in the end, the waves properties of interference, reflection, and refraction

proves true. First, the interference properties of the waves are proved true, as the

two slits interferences demonstrate the constructive & destructive interference. Next,

waves are also said to go around obstacles that is why you can see the wave fronts

change as they pass through the slits. Also, the reflection of the circular screen

proves the waves property of reflection.

Recommendation

Use a much much more transparent acrylic material.

Find a more uniform way to generate the waves.

Find a way to secure the Aluminum sheet to the tank firmly.

Due to a limitation of budget, the number of acrylic cutter we can afford to buy is

limited as well. So the work can be done by one person at the time, combining with a

small amount of time, the project can be done properly.

References
Serbanescu, R. (2015). Wave phenomena: ripple tank experiments . Retrieved from

utoronto:

https://www.physics.utoronto.ca/~phy225h/experiments/ripple/RIPPLE.pdf