Wavelength for 2D interference

Name: Joshua Wee Khui Ren

Student ID: 19035518
Class: 2-1
Partners: Tan Wei Shaw, Kow Jun Son, Wen Hong Chua
Date: 2/8/19

Aim: To find the wavelength of water wave using the path difference formula and the
ax
λ= formula.
d

Introduction: There are many properties of wave. Interference is one of the properties of
wave. Interference of wave occurs when two waves of same phase, same frequency and
same wavelength interfered each other and combined (the Physics Classroom, n.d.). The
combination of these two waves is called superposition (the Physics Classroom, n.d.). In
result, antinode and node will form (Khan academy, n.d.). Antinode is formed when crest of
one wave meets crest of another wave or trough of one wave meets trough of another
wave (Khan academy, n.d.). This is called constructive interference. The result of
constructive interference will form bright fringes if the source is monochromatic light. If
sound source is used, loud sound produced (Khan academy, n.d.). Node is formed when
crest of one wave meets trough of another wave (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica,
2016). This is called destructive interference. The result of destructive interference will form
dark fringes if monochromatic light is used, soft sound if sound source is used (The Editors
of Encyclopedia Britannica, 2016). Young’s double slit experiment is one of the experiments
conducted to proof whether light is a wave (Stark, 2018). The source used in this experiment
is monochromatic light (Stark, 2018). The experiment involves diffraction and interference
(Stark, 2018). This current experiment is similar to Young’s double slit experiment. Instead
of using monochromatic light, this experiment was conducted using ripple tank kit. The
source is the dipper of the ripple tank kit which produces water wave. When interference
occurs, it is said that the middle line will always be central maximum, where m=0 (the
Physics Classroom, n.d.). The central maximum will always be the place where loud sound
heard, bright fringes formed (the Physics Classroom, n.d.). There are two important
formulas in interference. One of the formulas is to find path difference. The other want is to
find the wavelength of the source. These two formulas will be used to find the wavelength
of the water wave.
p . d .=mλ
ax
λ=
d
Materials and equipment: Ripple tank kit, A4 paper, meter ruler, tape, pencil
Labelled diagram:

Ripple tank kit

A4 paper

Method:
Part A

1) The ripple tank was set up and turned on.

2) The distance between the two sources of water wave on the ripple tank was
measured using meter ruler.
3) An A4 paper was taped on the ripple tank.
4) The frequency of the dipper was adjusted until a clear wave interference
pattern was shown on the A4 paper.
5) The distance between the two sources of water wave was measured on the
A4 paper using meter ruler.
6) The measurements were used to calculate the scale factor of the image of
water waves on the screen.
Part B
1) The central maximum formed on the A4 paper where, m=0 was drawn.
2) A point on the first antinode line beside the central maximum where, m=1
was noted.
3) One line was drawn from the point to the first source and another was drawn
from the point to the second source.
4) The distance between the point and the first source and the distance
between the point and the second source was measured using meter ruler.
5) Step 2-4 was repeated by using another 2 different points on the first
antinode line, m=1.
 Part C
1) A line was drawn between the two sources on the A4 paper.
2) The line was measured using meter ruler and recorded as a.
3) A horizontal line was drawn on a point on the first antinode line where,
m=1.
4) The distance between the line (two sources of water wave) and the line
(the point on first antinode line) was measured and recorded as D.
5) The distance between the two consecutive antinode line was measured and
recorded as x.
6) Step 1-5 of the experiment was repeated by using another 2 different point
on the first antinode line.

Results:
Part A

Distance between 2 sources of water wave Distance between 2 sources of water wave
on the dipper tank (cm) on the A4 paper (cm)
3.0 7.0

Part B (A4 paper)

Distance between the antinode point and Distance between the antinode point and
the first source (cm) the second source (cm)
7.0 5.0
6.7 4.7
5.6 3.0

Part C (A4 paper)

Distance between two Distance between two Distance between the

sources, a (cm) consecutive antinodes, x source and the antinode, D
(cm) (cm)
7.0 1.6 4.7
7.0 0.7 2.0
7.0 1.0 3.7

Analysis:

Part A
 7
3:7, the image has a scale factor of
3

Part B
p . d .=mλ
15
1)│3− │=1 λ
7
λ=0.857 cm

201 141
2) │ − │=1 λ
70 70
λ=0.857 cm

12 9
3) │ − │=1 λ
5 7
λ=1.114 cm

0.857 +0.857+1.114
Average wavelength of the water wave=
3
=0.943cm

Part C
ax
λ=
d

1) λ=
(3 ) ( 2435 )
141
70

λ=1.02 cm
 2) λ=
(3 ) ( 103 )
6
7
λ=1.05cm

3)
λ=
(3) ( 37 )
111/70

λ=0.81cm

1.02+1.05+0.81
Average wavelength of the water wave=
3
=0.96cm

Discussion:
Based on the analysis, the wavelength of the water wave calculated using the path
difference formula is 0.943cm. The wavelength of the water wave calculated using the
ax
- λ= formula is 0.96cm. The slight difference in the value of wavelength may be caused
d
by errors. There are a few errors might occur when conducting the experiment. First, when
taking the readings, eye may not be perpendicular to the scale of the meter ruler. Hence,
the readings taken were not as accurate as it supposed to be. Second, the frequency
adjusted to form wave interference pattern on the A4 paper may not be exactly clear. This
affects the overall result as the antinodes chosen cannot be seen properly. Therefore, the
measurements taken may be inaccurate and unreliable. There are a few ways to improve
the experiment. One is to conduct the Young’s double slit experiment instead of ripple tank.
This experiment is the experiment that explains the fundamental principle of interference,
the core experiment. The source used is monochromatic light. It will be much more accurate
as it has only one wavelength and one frequency whereas the ripple tank experiment need
to adjust the frequency in order for a clear wave interference pattern formed

Conclusion: The wavelength of the water wave was determined.

 Reference List
Khan academy. (n.d.). Diffraction and constructive and destructive interference. Retrieved
from https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/physical-processes/light-and-
electromagnetic-radiation-questions/a/diffraction-and-constructive-and-destructive-
interference
Stark, G. (2018). Light. Retrieved from
https://www.britannica.com/science/light/Diffraction-effects
the Physics Classroom. (n.d.). Interference of Waves. Retrieved from
https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/waves/Lesson-3/Interference-of-Waves
The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. (2019). Interference. Retrieved from
https://www.britannica.com/science/interference-physics