Resonance in a Rod
Purpose
Demonstrates how holding position on a vibrating rod selects which longitudinal standing wave harmonics can persist. Students hear the pitch rise as the hold point moves to positions that enforce higher-order modes, connecting boundary conditions to resonant frequency.
Figure 1:
The singing rod apparatus with colored bands marking nodal positions for different harmonics. The rosined glove excites longitudinal waves, while holding at specific positions selectively reinforces harmonics with nodes at those points.
Equipment
- 1