Acoustics and Vibration Animations Feature Summary

Type:
Physics in Your World
Title:
Acoustics and Vibration Animations
Description:
photo credit: Jim Krider, Physics Instructional Resource Team, Arizona State
University
hi-res image

In this classic physics demonstration, the tube that contains the Bunsen burner gas has a speaker at each end that emits a pure tone. The tones have the same frequency and are in phase. The frequency of the tones is selected to set up a large standing wave inside the tube, and the resulting pressure distribution produces the pattern of flames.

more on standing waves.

(This feature was updated on August 14, 2011.)
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September 1, 2006 - September 16, 2006