- No lesson on acoustics is complete without the didgeridoo. Impress your students with its very peculiar sounds.
- Can demonstrate the phenomenon of beats very easily.
- For additional physics see: http://newt.phys.unsw.edu.au/jw/didjeridu.html
- Mouth piece can be removed and washed.
- If you don’t already know how to play a didgeridoo, ask Adam for assistance.
- Located in L02, section C.
resonance
Boomwhackers
- Length of each tube determines tube’s resonance pitch. The longer the tube the lower the pitch. Tone produced by whacking a tube reveals its note of resonance. Resonance pitch can be changed by attaching the plastic end-cap.
- For additional demo ideas and see: boomwhackers
- Located in L02, section C2.
Whistling Whirly Tubes
- Hold handle-side of tube securely and twirl around rapidly in a circle. Tube makes a whistling sound that can be heard long distances, resulting from standing pressure waves that set up in the tube. Pitch of whistle depends on twirling speed, however, because only standing waves produce a whistle, the pitch of the whistle goes from one octave to the next in discrete jumps. See: sound pipe document for further explanation.
- Can also use tube to demonstrate Bernoulli’s principle. Pressure difference between tube ends results from faster motion of outer end. Pressure differential produces air flow through tube. Stationary end of tube (handle end) acts as a vacuum and will suck up small pieces of paper when outer end is twirling.
- Located in L02, section C2.
Resonance Tube
- Purpose: Demonstrate resonance and measure speed of sound.
- Two different resonance tubes are shown above.
For Smaller Tube
- Strike tuning fork on rubber pad; place fork near larger
opening of tube; slide inner tube in and out until resonance is heard. Use
tube length and frequency to determine speed of sound.
For larger Tube
- Use speaker and function generator to find resonant frequency
of tube. Once resonance is found, use vernier microphone to locate nodes and
anti-nodes.Use tube length and frequency to determine speed of sound. - Located in L02,
Speed of Sound Tube
- Measure speed of sound by placing tuning fork near open end
of tube and adjusting water level to find resonance. - Located in L02,