We describe a simple method for generating capillary waves of a known frequency on a liquid surface. A noncontact technique based on laser diffraction is introduced to measure the wavelength of the capillary waves with great precision. The data give the dispersion relation of capillary waves and provide an accurate method for determining the relation between the surface tension and the temperature in a nondestructive way.
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.© 2007 American Association of Physics Teachers.
2007
American Association of Physics Teachers
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