Abstract:
A ripple tank is known for its illustrations of the physical behavior of waves. We propose to extend the use of the ripple tank to determine the surface tension of liquid water, under the condition of a capillary wave where the wavelength of the water is less than 1.73 cm. The study includes three different procedures for observing and obtaining the speeds of the water waves and wavelengths at different depths and driving frequencies. The first procedure is the direct measurement via imaging; interference is used as the second mean; the lens-like behavior of troughs and crests of the water waves leads to the third methods. The results show that the surface tension of water obtained is 0.074, 0.067 and 0.102 N/m2 respectively. The first and the second methods, respectively, yield 2.77% and 6.47%, deviation from the actual value which is 0.072 N/m2. The optical method yields a 41.6% deviation. The study provides another simple way of determining the surface tension of water by using a ripple tank which is available in most laboratories, especially those in high school level.
WALAILAK UNIVERSITY. CENTER FOR LIBRARY RESOURCES AND EDUCATIONAL MEDIA