Ripples — Wave Interference Simulator

Explore a ripple tank in your browser

Ripples is a free 2D wave simulator for comparing interference patterns and boundary behavior. Begin with one source, switch on the second, and watch where the waves overlap. No download or account is needed.

Sources and controls

• Frequency and Amplitude: Shared controls for both sources. The second source has a fixed quarter-cycle phase offset.
• 2nd Source: Enables or disables the second emitter.
• Mouse drag: Moves the first source, or the second when you start near its marker. Touch dragging moves the first source.
• Borders: Compare Open, Reflective and Fixed settings. Fixed holds edge displacement at zero; it does not mean waves simply vanish without reflection.
• Color: Changes the displacement palette. Color is a visualization choice, not a direct energy measurement.
• Grid: Switch between Performance and HD resolution.
• Pause: Freezes the simulation for inspection.
• Reset: Clears waves while retaining current parameters and source positions.

Save a setup or image

Save a profile to keep parameters and source positions, then load it for another comparison. Profiles do not preserve the instantaneous wave field. You can export and import profiles, or save an image of the current display.

Try a first comparison

Set Frequency to 2 and Amplitude to 12. Observe one source, then enable the second without changing the other settings. Reset between comparisons and use the same border and resolution. Follow the two-source wave interference experiment for a complete procedure.

This is a numerical visual model for exploring wave behavior. It is not a calibrated measurement of a physical ripple tank.