Simple Harmonic Motion
Forces and Motion
S.H.M. on a rope
Practical Activity
for 14-16
Class practical
To show that the wave train on a rope has a sinusoidal shape.
Apparatus and Materials
- Rope, 6 m (or rubber tube)
Health & Safety and Technical Notes
Read our standard health & safety guidance
It is best if the rope is long enough for the wave to die out considerably by the time it reaches the far end, so that reflections do not cause standing waves. One should then see a continuous train of waves travelling along the rope.
Procedure
- Stretch a rope on the floor.
- Oscillate one end of it at about 4 Hz by hand.
Teaching Notes
- The oscillation that drives the motion of the rope is a S.H.M.
- This simple experiment can be used to link the experiment with and to link S.H.M. with wave behaviour.
