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Item #97-4900
Mini Sonometer
$109.00
Bundle Discount
Make music measurable
The Mini Sonometer is a vibrating string apparatus used to study standing waves and the relationship between frequency, string length, tension, and linear mass density. A steel string stretched over movable bridges allows students to vary vibrating length, while slotted masses (up to 1 kg) adjust string tension. This hands-on system enables quantitative verification of wave relationships, including the wave equation (v = fλ) and the tension–wave speed relationship (v = √(T/μ)).
Why Teachers Love the Mini Sonometer
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Hands-On Wave Investigation – Students vary string length and tension to hear and measure how frequency responds, reinforcing the wave equation in a tangible way.
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Clear Cause-and-Effect Relationships – Add slotted masses (up to 1 kg) to systematically vary tension and directly observe its effect on pitch and vibration frequency.
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Compact, Durable, and Classroom-Ready – The mini design fits easily on lab benches while still providing stable string tension and reliable, repeatable results.
Product Details
Ideal For These Labs & Investigations
The Mini Sonometer supports a wide range of wave and sound investigations, including:
- Frequency vs. String Length Investigations
- Effect of Tension on Wave Speed
- Standing Waves on a String
- Fundamental Frequency and Harmonics
- Verification of the Wave Equation (v = fλ)
- Exploring the Relationship Between Tension and Wave
- Speed (v = √(T/μ))
- Resonance and Vibrating Systems Labs
Students can measure vibrating length, calculate tension from applied mass, and compare theoretical and experimental frequencies to analyze percent error and model wave behavior mathematically.
Perfect For These Courses
High School
- Physics (CP, Honors, and AP® Physics 1)
- Physical Science
- STEM & Engineering Courses
College & University
- Introductory Physics
- Waves & Oscillations Units
- Acoustics Labs
- Engineering Foundations
Products being sold are not toys. They are for Educational / Laboratory use only. They are not for use by children 12 and under.
Product Specifications
No specifications available.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a sonometer used for?
A sonometer is used to study standing waves on a string and investigate how frequency depends on string length, tension, and linear mass density.How does the Mini Sonometer demonstrate wave relationships?
Students vary the vibrating length and apply known masses to change tension, allowing them to measure how frequency changes and verify wave equations.Can students perform quantitative experiments with this device?
Yes. By measuring string length, applied mass (tension), and frequency, students can calculate wave speed and compare experimental results to theoretical predictions.What topics does this apparatus support?
The Mini Sonometer supports units on standing waves, sound, resonance, harmonics, wave speed, and the mathematical relationships between tension, mass density, and frequency.
Warning: California Residents
WARNING: Cancer & Reproductive Harm — www.P65Warnings.ca.gov
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