How Does Water Depth Affect Wavespeed?

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How Does Water Depth Affect Wavespeed?

Plan.

In this investigation, I will be investigating how the depth of water affects the wavespeed. To do this, I will need to find out the speed of a wave in a range of water depths. So I can find the speed of the wave I will fill a tray with water. It will be a measured amount of water. Then to start a wave, I will lift one side of the tray up off the table and drop it. Here is a diagram of the equipment:

When the tray hits the table, a stopwatch will be started. Then the amount of times the wavefront moves left and right between the sides of the tray will be counted. Once the wave has stopped, or we can't see it moving, the stopwatch will be stopped. Using the information I have from this I can work out the wavespeed, using the following formulae:

Wavespeed = length of tray x no of times the wave went back and forth

Time

The equipment I will use in this investigation is:

Tray,

Stopwatch,

Ruler,