PASCO WA-9899 Ripple Tank System - Manual (Page 7)

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M o d e l N o . W A - 9 8 9 9 A b o u t t h e E q u i p m e n t
7
WA-9896 Ripple Generator and Light Source
The Ripple Generator is designed to be used with the WA-9897
Ripple Tank. The generator controls the included Light Source.
The Light Source uses a white light-emitting diode (LED) that
remains cool during operation and produces a bright, clear
image of the wave patterns in the ripple tank. The light can be
used as a steady source or as a strobe to ‘freeze’ the motion of
the wave patterns. The ripple generator frequency range is
from 1.0 to 50 Hz adjustable in 0.1 Hz increments, and the
generator has a digital frequency readout window that is easy
to see in dim light. The generator uses voice coil actuators to
produce the precise and quiet up-and-down motion of the rip-
pler arms. The ripple generator has knobs for adjusting the dip-
per depth and amplitude and a switch for changing the phase of
the two rippler arms from zero (in phase) to 180 degrees (out
of phase).
Generator Attachments The ripple generator includes a
plane wave dipper (1), small actuators (2), dipper adapters (3), stan-
dard dippers (4), and large actuators (5). The plane wave dipper and
the standard dippers attach to the clips at the end of each rippler arm.
Use the dipper adapters to attach the small or large actuators to the
rippler arms, or to the clips on one side of the plane wave dipper. The
standard dippers can be attached to the clips at the end of each rippler
arm or to the clips on the plane wave dipper.
The standard dippers and dipper adapters are designed so that the top
‘third’ of the part fits securely into the clips on the rippler arms. The
parts fit into the clips in one way; do not force them into the clips.
The dippers and adapters are designed so that the ‘middle third’ of
the part fits into the clips on the plane wave dipper.
The standard dippers and dipper adapters can be used as ‘point sources’ when attached to
the ripple generator. In general, the higher the frequency of the ripple generator, the
smaller the point source attachment should be in order to produce the sharpest looking cir-
cular waves.
Mounting the Light Source The light source has a built-in rod clamp for
mounting the light on the rod that comes with the ripple tank assembly. Mount the light
source near the top of the rod so that the light source is at right angles to the rod and the
opening of the light source is above the center of the ripple tank.
Mounting the Ripple Generator Use the built-in rod clamp on the end of the
ripple generator to mount the generator on a 90-cm rod (ME-8738, not included) that is
supported by a large rod base (ME-8735, not included). Position the ripple generator so
that it is slightly above the midpoint of one side of the ripple tank but does not touch the
tank. Arrange the generator so that it is at right angles to the side of the ripple tank, and the
midpoint of the generator is approximately in line with the inner edge of the ripple tank.
Connecting the Power Adapter The ripple generator comes with an AC
adapter that provides 15 V DC (at up to 1.6 A). Connect the included power cord between
an electrical outlet and the AC adapter, and then connect the plug from the adapter into the
power input port on the side of the ripple generator.
Connecting the Light Source Connect the power cord from the light source
into the jack on the side of the ripple generator that is beneath ‘TO LIGHT’ on the label.
WA-9896 Ripple Generator (right) and Light Source (left)
with power adapter and cord
1
2
3
4
5
Generator Attachments
Tip: Before using the plane
wave dipper or the other dip-
pers or the actuators for the first
time (or after a long period of
non-use), lightly coat the bot-
tom surfaces with a very small
amount of surfactant.
Tip: Before connecting the
power adapter to the ripple gen-
erator, be sure that the
‘ON-OFF’ switch on the left side
of the generator is in the ‘OFF’
position.
Also, turn the ‘AMPLITUDE’
knob on the top of the generator
fully counter-clockwise.