Suspended Slinky Waves
Purpose
A slinky suspended by strings across the lecture bench demonstrates longitudinal and transverse wave propagation, reflection from fixed and free ends, and how viewing angle affects wave visibility.
Figure 1:
The suspended slinky configuration allows transverse waves to propagate perpendicular to the line of sight, demonstrating how viewing angle affects wave visibility. From student perspective, transverse vertical waves appear longitudinal.
Figure 2:
Alternative viewing angle demonstrates how transverse waves in the horizontal plane appear as longitudinal compression patterns. This configuration can be rotated toward students to clearly show true longitudinal wave motion.