Resonance

Principle

There are so-called resonance boxes for tuning forks that can increase the sound volume of the tuning forks to a considerable extent. A resonance box is a hollow body with certain dimensions and it is usually made of wood or metal. Resonance boxes, or sound boxes, are part of numerous musical instruments. Sound boxes, and particularly their dimensions and shape, also play an important role in the design of loudspeakers. Resonance means that an object that is capable of oscillation is stimulated with its natural or resonant frequency. As a result, the object has an oscillation-amplifying effect. In this experiment, the students determine the resonant frequencies of an open glass tube as well as of a frame drum. In addition, they also create a resonance curve for the frame drum.

Benefits

• Experiment is part of an experiment set with a total of 22 experiments about generation, propagation and perception of sound, oscillations and waves
• Particularly appropriate as an experiment for first contact with physics in general
• With graphic student worksheets
• With detailed instructor information
• Optimized for tight schedules, i.e. minimum preparation time required

Tasks

In this experiment, examine the frequencies at which a glass tube and a frame drum reach a resonant state.

Learning objectives

• Resonance box
• Sound box
• Natural frequency
• Resonant frequency
• Resonance curve