Required Practical: Waves

This lesson covers the Required Practical on measuring the speed of waves in a solid and the speed of waves in water, as required by the AQA GCSE Physics specification (4.6.1). This practical is commonly examined and you must know the method, equipment, variables, sources of error, and how to improve accuracy.

---

Overview of the Required Practical

AQA requires you to carry out experiments to measure the speed of waves in different contexts. The two main experiments are:

1. Measuring the speed of waves on the surface of water (ripple tank).
2. Measuring the speed of waves in a solid (e.g. waves on a string or using a stretched spring).

Both experiments use the wave equation: v = f x lambda

To find the wave speed, you need to measure the frequency and the wavelength of the wave, then substitute into the equation.

Exam Tip: The required practical on waves is one of the most commonly examined practicals. You must be able to describe the method, identify the variables, explain sources of error, and suggest improvements. Even if you did not do the practical in class, you can still be examined on it.