1

LAB REPORT
RIPPLE TEST
SUBMITTED TO
MS. FEHMA SAHREEN
MS. NIMRA FAROOQ

NOVEMBER 30, 2021

GROUP A-3

MEMBERS:
• RAJA MUHAMMAD AFFAN
• SYED MUHAMMAD HUSSAIN
• SYED LAKHT-E-HASSAN
• FAHEEM HASSAN
• TAUQEER HUSSAIN

GROUP A-3
 2
RIPPLE TANK EXPERIMENTS

ABSTRACT :

We had to conduct a three-part experiment using a ripple tank to observe the

characteristics of reflection and refraction of water waves. In part 1 we observed the
reflection of plane water waves from straight barriers and verified the laws of reflection
of waves. In part 2 of the experiment, we used curved barriers and devised the focal
length of convergence using the same procedure. In part 3 of the practical we studied
how plane water waves bend when they pass from one medium to another (preferably
denser) medium. We sketched the resultant wave’s pattern and then analyzed what was
going on.

GROUP A-3
 3
APPARATUS:

• Light source • Rod • Ripple Generator

• Ripple Tank Assembly • Screen Assembly • Leg
• Standard Dipper • Small Actuator • Large Actuator
• Dipper Adapter • Plane Dipper • Curved Reflector
• Long Diffraction Barrier • Short Diffraction Barrier • Mini Diffraction Barrier
• Concave Refractor • Convex Refractor • Trapezoidal Refractor
• Bottle of surfactant • Pipette • Ruler
• Plastic Storage Box • Beaker • AC Adapter

OBJECTIVE FOR PART 1&2:

The purpose of these experiments was to study the reflection of a plane of water wave
from different shaped barriers: a long straight barrier and a curved barrier and thereby
we shall verify the laws of reflection of waves.

GROUP A-3
 4
EXPERIMENT 1
INTRODUCTION & THEORY:

A ray is a line that indicates the direction of motion of a plane of wave. Wave fronts
are perpendicular to the ray. As per the law of reflection, when a wave reflects from a
surface, the angle of incidence is the angle between the incoming (or incident) ray
(rayi) and the normal (a line perpendicular to the surface “n”). The angle of reflection
is the angle between the outgoing (reflected) ray (rayR) and the normal. As per the law,
these angles should be equal.

APPARATUS:
• Ripple Tank Ripple Generator
• Light Source
• Long Barrier Plane Wave Dipper
• Curved Barrier Ruler

PROCEDURE:

We must mount the light source onto its rod at the back edge of the ripple tank. We
than poured a small amount of water into the tank and adjusted its feet on the legs of
the tank to level the tank. Later on, we placed the long straight barrier in the middle
of the tank. Moreover, we used a rod and base to support the ripple generator and
position the generator over the midpoint of one side of the ripple tank. We plugged
the light source into the ripple generator and connected the ripple generator to its
power adapter setting it to a frequency of 20Hz. We than connected the plane wave
dipper to the ripple arms and adjusted the ripple generator until the bottom of the
plane wave dipper is barely in contact with the surface of the water. We than placed
a blank sheet of paper directly under the ripple tank so you will be able to sketch the
images of the waves that are projected onto the sheet by the light source. In addition
to this, we placed the long barrier in the middle of the tank, so the barrier is at an
angle, and we turned the generator on. We had to adjust the light as per our vision.
On the paper below the tank, we placed the ruler parallel to the plane waves that are
GROUP A-3
 5
incoming to the barrier, and we made a line to show the incoming wave front. We than
placed the ruler parallel with a reflected wave and again to make a line to show the
outgoing (reflected) wave front and we started tracing the position of the straight
barrier.

OBSERVATIONS:

Once the procedure was completed, we could see patterns of waves on that large
piece of blank paper. We started to sketch it. We had to draw a line that is
perpendicular to the incoming wave front and then we extended that line to the
outline of the straight barrier. This represents the incoming ray or incident ray which
is labelled. Moreover, we had to draw a line from the point where the incoming ray
intersects the straight barrier, so it crosses the reflected wave front at a right angle.
This represents the reflected ray. We than used a protractor to draw the normal
(perpendicular) line at the point of reflection on the outline of the straight barrier.
Using the same protractor, we measured the angle of incidence and the angle of
reflection, and we recorded our measurements in the table below. We repeated the
procedure with different lines to get different angles of incidence and reflections. A
picture of our sketch is also attached.

Trial # 1 Trial # 2
Angle of Incidence θi 39° 40°
Angle of Reflection θR 40° 40°

GROUP A-3
 6
SKETCH OF
RIPPLE WAVE REFLECTION

CONCLUSION:

As per theory, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. However, in
the practical we performed, there is a slight difference. Our angle of incidence of 39°
while our angle of reflection was 40°. As it is a practically performed experiment by
students in a low light source, there is always room for a slight human error or
uncertainty hence a difference of ±2° less or more than our original reading can be
ignored. Whereby our practical verified the law of reflection and both incident and
reflected angles were equal.

GROUP A-3
 7
EXPERIMENT 2
OBJECTIVE:

The purpose of this experiment was to study the reflection of a plane of water wave
from different shaped barriers: a long straight barrier and a curved barrier and thereby
we shall verify the laws of reflection of waves and the theory of convergence.

APPARATUS:
• Ripple Tank Ripple Generator
• Light Source
• Long Barrier Plane Wave Dipper
• Curved Barrier Ruler

PROCEDURE:

After completing the first part of the experiment, we did not change much. We just
replaced the straight barrier with the curved barrier and positioned it such that it
aligned ‘parallel’ to the plane wave. We than traced the position of the curved barrier
on the paper below the ripple tank and we turned the ripple generator on. We first
marked the position on the paper where the waves that reflect from the curved barrier
appear to converge and then we traced the curved barrier. Once it was traced, it
functioned as a half-drawn circle which we completed, and we had to find its center
on our own.

GROUP A-3
 8
OBSERVATIONS:

We than used a drawing compass to complete the traced circular shape of the curved
barrier. We than marked the center of the circle using perpendicular bisector locus
techniques and then we measured the radius. The radius (R) of that circle was noted
and using the radius and the formula of Focal Length F, we were able to find the focal
length. All these readings are denoted below.

Radius: 10.4cm
|−𝑹| −𝟏𝟎.𝟒𝒄𝒎
Focal Length (F) = =| | = |−𝟓. 𝟐𝒄𝒎| = 𝟓. 𝟐𝒄𝒎
𝟐 𝟐

CONCLUSION:
As several wavefronts were approaching the barrier, upon reflection off the parabolic
curved barrier, the water waves changes their directions and head towards the ripple
generator. It is as though all the energy being carried by the water started is converged
at a single point and that point is known as the focal point. The focal point is always
half the radius of the curvature. In other words, following the formula stated above, it
was verified that the focal point was half the radius of the circle as the attached picture
shows.

GROUP A-3
 9
EXPERIMENT 3
OBJECTIVE:

The purpose of this activity was to show how waves change direction as they pass from
one region to another where the wave speed is different. In other words, the objective
was to observe how the wave travels from a lighter medium (water) to a denser
medium (plastic trapezoid) and then verify the laws of refraction.

APPARATUS:
• Ripple Tank Ripple Generator
• Light Source
• Trapezoidal Refractor
• Plane Wave Dipper
• Concave Refractor
• Ruler
• Convex Refractor

INTRODUCTION & THEORY:

As a wave travels from one medium to another where the wave speed is different, the
wave bends to a new direction. That is because both the regions have atomic
structure. In other words, either medium is less dense than the other. As per theory,
if the wave slows down, the wave will usually bend toward the normal of the interface.
This bending is called refraction.

GROUP A-3
 10
PROCEDURE:

First, we usually mount the light source onto its rod at the back edge of the ripple tank.
Then we pour a small amount of water into the tank and adjust the feet on the legs of
the tank to level the tank properly. We must than place the trapezoidal refractor in
the middle of the tank and add enough water so that all the trapezoid is drowned and
dipping not floating on the surface. Then we have to use the rod and the base to
support the ripple generator and position the generator over the midpoint of one side
of the ripple tank. Plug the light source into the ripple generator and connect the ripple
generator to its power adapter setting to a frequency of 20Hz. Furthermore, we have
to connect the plane wave dipper to the ripple arms. Adjust the ripple generator until
the bottom of the plane wave dipper is barely in contact with the surface of the water.
Finally, we will place a sheet of paper directly under the ripple tank so you will be able
to sketch the images of the waves that are projected onto the sheet by the light
source. Moreover, we arranged the trapezoidal refractor in the water in the middle of
the tank, so the rectangular end of the refractor is parallel to the plane wave dipper.
We than had turned the ripple generator on. We had to set the light source properly
to make sure we could draw easily. On the paper below the tank, we than traced the
outline of the trapezoidal refractor. In addition to this, we place the ruler parallel to
the plane waves that are incoming to the refractor, and we sketched those lines to
show the incoming wave fronts.

GROUP A-3
 11
OBSERVATION:

Firstly, we drew a line that was perpendicular to the incoming wave front and then we
extended the line to the outline of the trapezoidal refractor. This represents the
incoming ray (also called the incident ray (rayi). At the point where the line
representing the incident ray meets the outline of the refractor, we drew a new line
that is perpendicular to the wave fronts of the refracted waves as they pass over the
trapezoid. We observed that there was a slight tilt/change in direction of the waves.
In other words, the incident ray had moved towards the normal because it had slowed
down. We saw the ray forming a small angle of approximately xyz°. We than used the
following formula to find its refractive index (ñ).

𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝛉𝐢
Refractive index (Ƞ) =
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝛉𝐑
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟗𝟎 𝟏
Ƞ= = = 𝟏. 𝟎𝟐
𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝟕𝟖 𝟎.𝟗𝟕𝟖

GROUP A-3
 12
CONCLUSION :

The waves slow down, and its wavelength decreases therefore the wavefronts appear
to be closer to each other than before. As they constrict, we observe that the incident
ray has slightly changed its direction. It tilts towards the normal as it moves from a less
dense (water) to a more dense (solid plastic trapezoid) region. Using the angle of
incidence and angle of refraction, we were able to find the refractive index (ñ) of the
trapezoid. As the plane waves move from shallow to deep water, it will slow down just
like the phenomenon explained above

GROUP A-3