Oscillations & Waves

17 interactive Physics simulations on oscillations & waves.

3D Electromagnetic waves from an aerial – E ⊥ B, c = 1/√(μ₀ε₀), c = fλ, polarisation Physics · Oscillations & Waves A rotatable 3D model: charges oscillating in a half-wave dipole aerial radiate an electromagnetic wave whose... Ages 17–18
Simple pendulum – period, energy and measuring g Physics · Oscillations & Waves Five screens: Intro (one or two pendulums; change the string length, mass, acceleration due to gravity and friction;... Ages 16–17
Spring pendulum – simple harmonic motion Physics · Oscillations & Waves A mass m attached to a spring of stiffness k is pulled out to amplitude A and released. Watch the mass oscillate and... Ages 16–17
Air column resonance – measuring the speed of sound Physics · Oscillations & Waves A glass tube holds water and a 256–512 Hz tuning fork vibrates over its open end. Drag the water surface to change... Ages 16–17
Forced oscillations and resonance – driven spring–mass system Physics · Oscillations & Waves A horizontal spring–mass system is driven by a vibrator that applies a periodic force F = F₀cos(2πft). Students see... Ages 16–17
Radio wave modulation – AM and FM Physics · Oscillations & Waves An audio-frequency signal cannot travel far on its own, so it must be carried by a high-frequency carrier wave.... Ages 16–17
Measuring the speed of sound – echo timing, two microphones on an oscilloscope, ultrasound in phase Physics · Oscillations & Waves A virtual practical that measures the speed of sound in air in three ways: timing an echo from a wall with a... Ages 16–17
Wave interference and diffraction Physics · Oscillations & Waves Six screens: a single source where you measure amplitude, frequency and wavelength; two coherent sources producing a... Ages 16–17
Beats – two tones with close frequencies Physics · Oscillations & Waves Two pure tones with close frequencies f₁ and f₂ add up to produce beats: the loudness of the combined sound rises... Ages 16–17
Doppler effect – a moving sound source Physics · Oscillations & Waves A sound source (a vehicle with a siren) drives at constant speed past a listener standing a distance d from the... Ages 16–17
Masses and springs lab – oscillation and energy Physics · Oscillations & Waves Hang objects on a vertical spring and watch them oscillate across four screens: Intro, Vectors, Energy and Lab.... Ages 16–17
Standing waves on a string Physics · Oscillations & Waves A string of length l has either both ends fixed or one end free. Change the vibrator frequency and wave speed to... Ages 16–17
Transverse and longitudinal waves – how the particles move Physics · Oscillations & Waves A row of particles in a medium is set oscillating by a source at the left end; switch between a transverse wave... Ages 16–17
Waves on a string – travelling waves, reflection and standing waves Physics · Oscillations & Waves A string made of 81 beads, with the wave equation solved by finite differences. Choose how to drive the left end... Ages 16–17
Electromagnetic spectrum explorer – wavelength, frequency, photon energy, sources, uses and dangers Physics · Oscillations & Waves Drag a cursor along the electromagnetic spectrum on a log scale, from radio waves to gamma rays, and read the... Ages 16–17
Analog and digital signals – sending through a noisy channel Physics · Oscillations & Waves Send a waveform or a short text message through a noisy channel with several relays. The analog copy is amplified... Ages 16–17
Community Doppler Effect for Sound Physics · Oscillations & Waves Visualize the Doppler effect with a moving source and observer. Watch the circular wavefronts bunch up ahead and...