Sound & Waves

Standing waves are a common phenomenon usually shown through the vibrations of bridges or springs. Horizontal standing waves are produced in a lab by students shaking cords, springs and bungee cords. However, standing waves can also be produced in a vertical fashion by a single student. Using the new nylon Spring Wave, students are able to produce vertical standing waves easily and calculate the speed of the spring. This is a great little "twist" on the age-old standing wave lab that you have in your arsenal.

In the video clip, you see the Super Springy stretched out a distance of 24 feet. By adjusting the frequency of the waves, the wavelength may be manipulated so that different numbers of loops can be formed.  As with all standing waves, the length of one loop is one-half wavelength. You can find the wavelength (λ) of the standing wave by dividing its total length by the number of loops to get the length of one loop, and then doubling it.

If you are looking for something that occurs in nature and is tied to the physics classroom, look no further than vortex rings. These Vortex Rings are more common and widespread in nature than most people had probably thought; in fact they are studied in great detail by aeronautical engineers and combustion scientists. But we just think they are cool!

The Resonance Bowl can be traced back to ancient Tao tradition in China during the Han Dynasty (202 BC - AD 9) making this an ancient, but still highly effective, way to discuss and demonstrate behavior of waves and their interactions. Fill the bowl with water, rub the handles just the right way, and water [...]

You probably won't find this product in the Arbor Scientific catalog anytime soon, but it is definitely cool stuff! The Anti-Laser was demonstrated recently for the first time at Yale University. The fundamental concept of the Laser is that it is able to transmit "Coherent Light", which are monochromatic (one color) light waves that are [...]

Every once in a while we come across something that has the chance to make a real difference in the classroom in both engaging the students and making your life as a professor a little easier. We think this may be one of those times. Ripple tanks are such a wonderful way to teach your [...]

Show Them the Speed of Light, Using a Chocolate Bar!

If you have the typical classroom, your students will be a little extra distracted this February 14th for Valentine’s Day. We found a fun way to capture their attention on this sweetie-filled holiday and still teach a little physics in the process. In particular, you can [...]

Each new school year offers endless possibilities for igniting student interest in science. The principles students study in your classroom touch every aspect of their lives. Seeing the science involved in everything from a rainbow to a rock concert can be rewarding and enjoyable; having an understanding of the underlying physical principles behind these phenomena serves to heighten these experiences even more.

Good Vibrations An Exploration of Vibration, Sound, and Music
A wave is a disturbance that transports energy from one place to another without the transfer of matter. After a wave passes through a medium, there are no residual effects; the medium remains unchanged. For example, if you throw a stone in a pond, a circular wave [...]

We will demonstrate how sound waves are produced and reveal how they may be recorded and reproduced. Among the activities below are two that introduce students to analog sound recording. Growing up in the era of digital recording, most students are amazed to learn that sound can be recorded on an old fashioned record and reproduced with nothing more than a needle and a cardboard cone.