#  Traveling Waves 

 



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### Shive Wave Machine

\[M | t | ★★★★\]  
Rods attached to metal spine; transverse wave generator shows the reflection of waves free, fixed, terminated and transition boundaries.  
  
\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/shive-wave-machine)\]

### Wooden Dowel Wave Machine

\[XL | t | ★★★★\]  
Large (20 feet long) Shive wave machine that can clearly show the reflection and transmission of a pulse at the boundary of fast and slow media.

\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/wooden-dowel-wave-machine)\]

### Ripple Tank Wave Phenomena

\[L | t+ | —\]  
Interference patterns of water waves generated by different sources at adjustable frequency.  
  
\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/ripple-tank-wave-phenomena)\]

### Slinkys, Springs and Rope

\[M/L | t+ | —\]  
Generate your own transverse and longitudinal waves; pulse reflections from free and fixed ends are possible.

### Slinky Wave Cradle

\[L | t | ★★★\]  
Longitudinal wave demo with suspended slinky.  
  
\[[In-Depth Description](/presentations/slinky-wave-cradle)\]

### Russian Wave Machine

\[M | t | —\]  
Hand cranked transverse wave model.

### Wave in a Tank

\[M | t | —\]  
A two-fluid model shows the slow propagation of shallow water waves.

### Group/Phase Velocity

\[M | t+ | —\]  
The group velocity of two harmonic waves can be shown (on an oscilloscope) to be less than or greater than the individual phase velocities.

### Contact Us

**Mailing Address**: Lecture Demonstration Services, Science Center, Rm B-08A, 1 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138  
**Campus Location**: Science Center B-08A | **Tel**: (617) 495-5824 | **Email**: scidemos-at-fas.harvard.edu