Coupled Resonators Concept

Demonstrations in Coupled Resonators

Two matched tuning forks mounted on wooden resonance boxes; the right fork has adjustable slider weights on its prongs. A rubber mallet sits in front.

Sympathetic Resonance

Demonstrates sympathetic resonance: striking one tuning fork excites a matched fork on a nearby resonance box through acoustic coupling. After damping the struck fork, students hear the second fork vibrating …
Tuning fork in wooden base at resonance: orange and white ping pong balls suspended from a horizontal rod are motion-blurred as they bounce off the vibrating tines. Speaker visible at base of fork, signal generator at right.

Driven Tuning Fork

Demonstrates mechanical resonance by driving a 256 Hz tuning fork with a speaker at various frequencies. Ping pong balls resting against the tines bounce vigorously at the resonant frequency and …