- Sections
- A. General Materials & Mathematics
- B. Statics
- C. Kinematics & Dynamics
- D. Rotational Mechanics
- E. Gravitation & Astronomy
- F. Fluid Mechanics
- G. Vibrations & Mechanical Waves
- H. Sound
- I. Thermodynamics
- J. Electrostatics & Magnetostatics
- K. Electromagnetic Principles
- L. Geometrical Optics
- M. Wave Optics
- N. Spectra & Color
- O. Vision
- P. Modern Physics
Stroked Aluminum Rod
Purpose
To illustrate longitudinal standing waves in an aluminum rod.
Equipment
Aluminum rod with rosin.
Suggestions
Practice! This one is a bit weird at first, but is a very dramatic demonstration if done adequately.
Images
Description
Apply powdered violin rosin to your fingers or wear a rosined glove and stroke the aluminum rod firmly while holding it at a nodal point. Holding it in the center produces the fundamental, holding at 1/4 of the way from one end produces the second harmonic, holding at 1/6 of the way from one end produces the third harmonic, etc. The rod is about 6 ft long, and the speed of sound in aluminum is about 16,700 ft/sec, so the frequency of the fundamental is about 1400 Hz. The sound is very loud and lasts a long time; the Q for this system is around 100,000!◙
References
Lecture Demonstration, R. E. Berg, Instructions Sheet for Stroked Aluminum Rod. ◙Lecture Demonstration Calculations Sheet, "Q of Mechanical Oscillators." ◙Nobuo Naba, Observations of Longitudinal Vibration of Metal Rods, AJP 40, 1339-1340 (1972). ◙E. R. Pinkston and L. A. Crum, Lecture Demonstrations In Acoustics, JASA 55(1), 2-6, (1974).
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See pagesg1. simple harmonic motion
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See pagesg2. resonance & coupled oscillations
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See pagesg3. mechanical waves one dimensional
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See pagesg4. mechanical waves two dimensional
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See pagesg1. simple harmonic motion
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See pagesg2. resonance & coupled oscillations
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See pagesg3. mechanical waves one dimensional
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See pagesg4. mechanical waves two dimensional