Northwestern Physics Demos                                 Go back to Sound
  
DCS# 3B60.10NWU# S-12Location:    7 A 3
title: Acoustic Beats
aka: Resonance

Description:
Two tuning forks, one with adjustable frequency, are mounted in resonance boxes opened at one end.   When the open ends are directed towards each other, and the slightly detuned forks are struck, a beat frequency is heard.  Using a mic and osciloscope projection, the wave addition can be shown.
   When carefully tuned to the same frequency, the tuning forks can show resonance.  One is struck, then stopped by a grab.  The other will "misteriously" have begun to ring.

Questions:
    Does it matter which is the higher frequency oscillator?
   
pix of set up