2) Transverse Waves
Vibrating Waves on a string.
3) Velocity of Sound in
a Gas/Resonant Tubes
Measure speed of sound; provides a good model
for instruments based on resonant air columns.
4) Speed of Sound:
Re-enactment of the famous experiment of Galileo's
attempt to measure the speed of light. Yields crude measurement, but has
historical significance, and teaches error analysis and background subtraction.
Note, this must be done outdoors.
5) Simple musical instruments:
Using musical tuners, determine the frequency
of the overtone series for a variety of simple instruments including different
lengths of copper tube, a tubular reed recorder, and any other instrument
the students care to try. Discuss harmonic, odd-harmonic series. Closed
and open organ pipes.
6) Computer based lab:
1) Fourier Transforms:
Exercises using Mathematica (and other software
if available) to experiment with Fourier Transforms. Generate and play
sounds from a harmonic and odd-harmonic instrument.
2) Various exercises using the Experimental Acoustics
CD produced by the American Acoustical Society.
3) Equal vs. Just Temperament. I have some sound
samples comparing the two. Can also compute frequencies and plot each on
log plot.
7) Simple Harmonic Motion/Simple
Pendulum
Introduction to cyclic motion, and basic wave
phenomena.
Note: For the following, there is only 1 equipment setup available, so the students must work in groups, and rotate each week.
2) Diffraction and Interference,
and refraction.
Use a wave-table to understand basic principles.
3) Diffraction and Interference,
and refraction.
We have a set of speakers separated by 2m which
can be used to measure interference of sound waves. Can vary frequency,
and measure separation of nodes.
4) Resonant Flame tube:
Generate standing waves in a flame tube. Deterine
harmonics, and measure wavelength.
5) Oscilloscope experiments:
1) Lissajous Figures using 2 function generators
2) Lissajous Figures using mirros and laser
3) Fourier synthesizer: build and hear complex
waveforms
6) Standing wave patters
in 2-Dimensions:
Use a mechanical wave driver to excite Chladni
plates. Use square plates, and also shaped plates (i.e., violin shaped).
In addition to the material covered here, there is additional material covering the following topics in the UNT lab manual.
Vibration Modes
Loudness, Frequency, and Human Hearing
Reverberation Time
The Human Voice
Synthesizers, Computers, and MIDI