Fourier: Making Waves—An interactive simulation for visualizing fourier analysis

In this presentation, the PhET simulation “Fourier: Making Waves” http://PhET.colorado.edu/en/simulation/fourier, will be presented including the research behind the simulation, how students react to it and ideas for use in class. Students typically learn the math needed to do Fourier transforms and learn how to express a function in time or space and in terms of wavelength, wave number, or mode. However, many of these relationships are only memorized for the short term (exam) and are not retained. This simulation is designed to help students visualize how a combination of simple sines and cosines can create a more complicated function and listen to the sounds produced by each harmonic. This simulation features 11 adjustable harmonics which can be used to demonstrate various auditory perceptions. There is also a game tab with ten different levels that challenges students to choose the correct harmonics to match more and more complicated functions. For more mathematical explorations, students can investiga...