Beat Patterns
Purpose
Students observe acoustic beats both visually on an oscilloscope (using the math addition function) and audibly through a speaker. Demonstrates wave superposition and the relationship \(f_{\text{beat}} = |f_1 - f_2|\).
Figure 1:
The oscilloscope displays two input signals on channels 1 and 2 and their math-mode sum, showing the beat pattern envelope.
Figure 2:
Two Agilent function generators set to slightly different frequencies. Set both to the same audio frequency (200–1000 Hz), then offset one by 1–5 Hz.
Figure 3:
Behringer Eurolive B205D monitor speaker with two inputs, one for each signal generator, so students hear the combined beat pattern.