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PURPOSE: To illustrate water wave solitons and some of their properties.
DESCRIPTION: A narrow rectangular trough contains about 1.5 cm (300 ml) of water. With the water trough vibrating vertically at about 10 Hz, a soliton can be created by moving a small paddle back and forth across the trough. The soliton can be pushed along by sticking the paddle into the trough and moving it slowly toward the soliton. Two solitons can be created at different positions in the tank. If one is pushed toward the other, they will attract each other if they are in phase, and repel each other if they are out of phase. One soliton can be pushed toward a second out-of-phase soliton, causing the second soliton to move down the tank.
Sample solitons are shown below; the two solitons in the photograph at the right are out of phase.
Mpeg videos are available for: starting a soliton, collision of solitons in phase, and collision of solitons out of phase.
SUGGESTIONS: Set driving voltage to 9.00 +/-0.01 VDC. Be sure that apparatus is entirely level, or else the solitons will slowly drift downhill. Practice before trying this in front of class! Other setup data will be found in the demonstration reference file.
REFERENCES: Available. (PIRA 3B45.30)
EQUIPMENT: Tank with paddle, water, ruler, and HP digital power supply, with digital voltmeter for calibration.
SETUP TIME: 2 hours.
