PURPOSE: To show longitudinal waves.
DESCRIPTION: A mechanical wave machine consists of a sequence of equal length rods that are connected by springs and are free to pivot. See the photo at left. By pulsing with your hand as shown on the photo at right, longitudinal traveling waves can be created. The end can be fixed, free, or damped.
A mechanical vibrator can be used to produce standing waves. The sequence of harmonics is applied to show the modes of vibration for a discrete system on N oscillators.
This wave machine is often used in conjunction with the torsional wave machine when first introducing waves, as shown in the middle photo.
EQUIPMENT: Wave machine as photographed.
SETUP NOTES: Blacklights can be used.
Updated by Jun Qi in 3/24/2000