Wave on a String

Wave on a String Screenshot
  • Waves
  • Frequency
  • Amplitude
Flash Logo Original Sim and Translations

Topics

  • Waves
  • Frequency
  • Amplitude
  • Damping

Description

Explore the wonderful world of waves! Even observe a string vibrate in slow motion. Wiggle the end of the string and make waves, or adjust the frequency and amplitude of an oscillator.

Sample Learning Goals

  • Discuss wave properties using common vocabulary.
  • Predict the behavior of waves through varying medium and at reflective endpoints.

Standards Alignment

Common Core - Math

HSF-TF.B.5
Choose trigonometric functions to model periodic phenomena with specified amplitude, frequency, and midline.*
Version 1.1.22

Teacher Tips

Download teacher tips PDF Overview of sim controls, model simplifications, and insights into student thinking ( PDF ).

Teacher-Submitted Activities

Waves on a String (Inquiry Based) A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein HS
MS
UG-Intro		 MC
HW
Lab
Remote
Demo		 Physics
Mathematics
Concept questions for Physics using PhET (Inquiry Based) A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein UG-Intro
HS		 MC Physics
Algebra-based Physics Semester one lessons, clicker questions, and schedule in pdf (Inquiry Based) A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein UG-Intro
HS		 HW
Demo
Lab		 Physics
Wave unit (Inquiry Based) A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein UG-Intro
HS		 Lab
Demo		 Physics
EM wave analogy tutorial A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Noah Podolefksy UG-Intro Lab Physics
Wave demonstrations: water, sound, light (Inquiry Based) A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein HS
UG-Intro		 CQs
Demo		 Physics
Wave clicker questions (Inquiry Based) A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein UG-Intro
HS		 CQs Physics
Speed of a Wave NGSS aligned A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. Susie Dykstra HS Lab Physics
Waves on a String HTML5 PreAP Lesson A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. Elyse Zimmer HS Lab Physics
Sound and Wave Basics A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. Dr. Wendy Adams and the Acoustical Society HS
MS
UG-Intro		 HW Physics
How do PhET simulations fit in my middle school program? This contribution was designed by PhET. Sarah Borenstein MS Other Chemistry
Earth Science
Physics
Biology
Alignment of PhET sims with NGSS This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein updated by Diana López MS
HS		 Other Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Earth Science
Speed of a Mechanical Wave Ferdinand Bautista MS
HS		 Guided
Lab		 Physics
Properties of Waves Virtual Lab Amy Mattes MS Guided
Lab		 Physics
Guided Discovery for Waves on a String Don Loving MS
HS
UG-Intro		 Lab
Guided
HW		 Physics
Mapping of PhET and IBDP Physics Jaya Ramchandani HS Other Physics
MS and HS TEK to Sim Alignment Elyse Zimmer HS
MS		 Other Physics
Biology
Chemistry
Properties of Waves - Lab Guide Ryan Aman MS Guided
Lab		 Physics
Waves on a String and Wave Interference Virtual Labs Jennifer Hamilton MS
HS		 Lab
Guided
HW		 Physics
Waves on a string Jason Mcclurg UG-Intro
HS		 Lab Physics
Activity: Wave on a String Aaron Keller HS
MS
UG-Intro		 Discuss
Guided
Lab		 Chemistry
Astronomy
Physics
Speed of Wave Investigation David Garza HS
MS		 Lab Physics
Wave Properties and Interactions Lab Manual Fatih Gozuacik MS
HS		 Guided
Lab		 Physics
Waves on a String AP1 Sarah Cunningham HS Lab
Guided		 Physics
Energy waves digital lab Martin Hofkamp HS
MS		 HW
Lab		 Physics
PHET Digtial Wave Lab Martin Hofkamp K-5
MS
HS		 HW
Lab		 Physics
Standing Waves Lab Kristin Mandsager HS Lab Physics
Wave Interference Shawna Carter HS
MS		 Guided
Lab		 Physics
Waves on a String Charlotte Daniell HS HW
Lab		 Physics
Lab- Wave Simulation Kyle Bracchi MS Lab
Guided		 Physics
Wave Investigation Chuck Faber MS Lab Physics
Experiment to determine relationship between wavelength, frequency and speed Mark Wilson MS Lab Physics
Wave Basics for Middle Schoolers Megan Elmore MS Guided Physics
Waves on a string Kim Diate and Jovelyn Ysa-al HS Lab
HW		 Physics
Types of Waves and its Parts Arnold Centural Jr. and Mark Anduyan HS
UG-Intro		 Discuss
Guided		 Physics
Preguntas de razonamiento para todas las simulaciones HTML5 A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Diana López HS
UG-Intro
UG-Adv
MS
K-5
Grad		 HW
Discuss		 Mathematics
Chemistry
Astronomy
Physics
SECUNDARIA: Alineación PhET con programas de la SEP México (2011 y 2017) This contribution was designed by PhET. Diana López MS
HS		 Other Mathematics
Physics
Biology
Chemistry
PREPARATORIA: Alineación de PhET con programas de la DGB México (2017) This contribution was designed by PhET. Diana López UG-Intro
HS		 Other Chemistry
Physics
Mathematics
PRIMARIA: Alineación con programas de la SEP México (2011 y 2017) This contribution was designed by PhET. Diana López K-5
MS		 Lab
Demo
Guided
Discuss
HW		 Mathematics
Astronomy
Physics
Chemistry
Brzina vala Karmen Prugovečki MS Guided Physics
Stehende Wellen mit der Simulation Seilwelle erforschen Vroni Retzer HS Guided Physics
Percobaan gelombang pada tali khairul jalil MS
HS		 Lab
Guided		 Physics
Siimulação PhET_Guia de Exploração_Onda numa corda Teresinha Patrício MS Guided
MC		 Physics
Atividade: Vales, Cristas e Ciclos Lisboa Coutinho MS
HS
UG-Intro		 Guided Physics
Velocidade do Pulso de Onda no "Wave on a String (HTML5)" Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales HS
MS
Other		 HW
Guided
Other		 Mathematics
Physics
Earth Science
Other
Ondas Mecânicas (em corda) no "Wave on a String (HTML5)" Artur Araújo Cavalcante e Gilvandenys Leite Sales HS
Other
MS		 Guided
Other
HW		 Other
Mathematics
Physics
Earth Science
ONDAS MECÁNICAS FRANCISCO CRUZ CANTU HS Guided
Lab
HW		 Physics
Guia katherine vergara MS Guided Physics

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HTML5 sims can run on iPads and Chromebooks, as well as PC, Mac, and Linux systems.

iPad:
iOS 12+ Safari
iPad compatible sims

Android:
Not officially supported. If you are using the HTML5 sims on Android, we recommend using the latest version of Google Chrome.

Chromebook:
Latest version of Google Chrome
The HTML5 and Flash PhET sims are supported on all Chromebooks.
Chromebook compatible sims

Windows Systems:
Microsoft Edge, latest version of Firefox, latest version of Google Chrome.

Macintosh Systems:
macOS 10.9.5+, Safari 9+, latest version of Chrome.

Linux Systems:
Not officially supported. Please contact phethelp@colorado.edu with troubleshooting issues.

Design Team Third-party Libraries Thanks To
  • Ariel Paul (lead)
  • Michael Dubson (lead, developer)
  • Jonathan Olson (developer)
  • Patricia Loeblein
  • Kathy Perkins
  • Amy Rouinfar
  • Sharon Siman-Tov (graphic arts)
  • almond-0.2.9.js
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  • fontawesome-webfont-3.0.2.svg
  • game-up-camera-1.0.0.js
  • jama-1.0.2
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  • pegjs-0.7.0.js
  • seedrandom-2.4.2.js
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