Wave on a String

Computers come with a lot of capabilities, and modern hardware components make it possible to run quite the variety and complex simulations. More than this, it comes as a great help in education, and related programs don’t necessarily have to be too complex. A suitable example in this regard is Wave on a String, teaching you about string waves.

There are a few things which need to be noted first. The application runs in your default web browser, but in order for things to properly work out, your computer needs to be fitted with Java Runtime Environment and Adobe Flash Player. The program isn’t packed in an installer, so you can carry it with you on a USB flash drive.

As the name might suggest, the application wants to teach you all about string interaction, forces, and waves. This is done in an interactive simulation, which allows you to manually control the initial force, have an automatic oscillator, or simply apply a pulse. The string can be left freely, held in a fixed position, or keep the end loose.

Preview is offered in real-time, giving you a chance to clearly view interaction. More than this, you can pause playback and manually step through the simulation for better understanding and analysis. The application can also display vertical and horizontal rulers for more accuracy, and even a timer in case you need to perform calculus and simulations.

Each type of interaction comes with its own set of configurations. There’s a general tension slider, as well as damping, amplitude, as well as frequency and and pulse width for oscillator and pulse modes. All changes to these values affect the simulation in real-time.

Wave on a String might not have an actual purpose in helping you develop projects, but it can surely be a reliable research and educational tool for student and youngsters. Various simulation parameters can be configured, while modes provide quite the variety of simulation scenarios.