PASCO WA-9899 Ripple Tank System - Manual (Page 8)

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R i p p l e T a n k S y s t e m A b o u t t h e E q u i p m e n t
8
Dipper Adjustment The ripple generator has two dipper adjustment knobs for
making small changes to the height and orientation of the generator. You can make fine
adjustments with these two knobs to position the dippers, plane wave dipper, or actuators
in the water without moving the entire ripple generator up or down on its rod. Use the
knob on the right side of the generator to move the front end of the generator up or down.
Use the knob at the back corner of the generator to tilt the front end of the generator right
or left (clockwise or counter-clockwise).
Before making adjustments, check that the ripple generator is
parallel to the bracket when the ripple generator is mounted on
the rod. This will allow for the widest range of adjustments
when you use the plane wave dipper, standard dippers, or actua-
tors.
It is very important that the dippers barely touch
the surface of the water in the tank. For the plane
wave dipper, it is also important that the dipper has
equal contact with the surface of the water over the
entire length of the dipper.
One way to adjust the ripple generator when it is
on the rod is to grip the rod below the rod clamp,
loosen the thumbscrew of the rod clamp, and sup-
port the rod clamp with your thumb. Gradually
nudge the rod clamp up or down on the rod until
the dippers attached to the rippler arms are in con-
tact with the water, then tighten the thumbscrew of
the rod clamp to secure the ripple generator on the
rod.
Next, use the two dipper adjustment knobs to raise, lower, or tilt the ripple generator so the
dippers barely touch the surface of the water. When everything is adjusted, the water will
appear to ‘curve upwards’ on the sides of the dipper.
Phase switch Dipper adjustment
knob
Amplitude knob
Frequency
knob
Dipper
adjustment knob
Power input port
Light Source jack
ON-OFF switch
Frequency
display
Rod
clamp
Bracket
Ripple Generator
Generator parallel to bracket
Water level
Water appears to
curve upward on the
sides of the dipper