3B Scientific Water Wave Channel - Manual

3B SCIENTIFIC® PHYSICS
4
Water Wave Channel 1000807
Instruction sheet
05/12 ELWE/ALF
1. Description
The water wave channel serves for the demonstra-
tion and investigation of surface waves in water.
It consists of a large transparent oblong trough,
which is two-thirds filled with water.
The waves are produced in the short V-shaped
section and studied in the I-shaped section. For the
generation of the waves a motor with transmission
is attached at the end of the V-shaped channel. It
propels two wave exciters, which move up and
down in the water. Each exciter produces a wave in
a section of the V-shaped channel. Depending
upon the setting, the two exciters can move in the
same direction or in contra motion. The frequency
of these waves can be varied by changing the oper-
ating voltage of the motor.
In both partial channels there is a frame with a
fleece directly in front of the wave exciters which
the waves must pass through. Thus to a large ex-
tent a sinusoidal process is achieved. Then the
waves enter the I-shaped part of the channel and
move along to its end. If the absorbing frame with
fleece is introduced at the end of this channel,
then they are dissipated as far as possible. Thus a
continuous wave pattern develops in the channel.
If the absorber is not inserted, the waves travel to
the end of the I-shaped channel and are reflected.
With a short switch-on time of the motor, a wave
train develops which travels through the channel
and is reflected and travels back towards the ex-
citer. With continuous operation of the motor the
arriving and the reflected waves overlap, producing
an image of a motionless standing wave.