Visualizing with salt


This gets a little intense.


Recent Entries

Comments

Oldest comments listed first.

Posted by: wax on September 26, 2008 at 11:39 AM

I think it's rice, not salt

I watch this video some time ago and I think it's Rice, not salt, any way it's amazing to see the "forms" of sound waves.

Greetings


Posted by: Odin12345 on September 26, 2008 at 12:14 PM

This is not actually visualizing sound

If it was visualizing sound, then we would see a different shape for every frequency. We are actually seeing that metal plates reaction to its resonate frequency. The main reason I believe this: you can only see shapes at certain tones.

The plates are always flexing up and down according to the sound, but it is not strong enough to move the rice. Once it hits a resonate frequency, it starts to flex in a predictable manner, causing the salt to congregate at the non-flexing sections.

This could actually turn into a really neat project. Different shapes will cause a different reaction. You could set up 5 different plates with 5 different shapes. Each one will have a different resonate frequency, and the shapes can change dynamically.


Posted by: Eric on September 26, 2008 at 4:54 PM

Waveguides

This reminds me vaguely of the different modes of a rectangular waveguide.


Posted by: Rob U on September 29, 2008 at 5:27 AM

We use beach sand...mode shape visualization

We always use beach sand for the mode shape visualization. For those that are interested, "vibration of plates" by arthur leissa has some photos of the same setup on many different shapes of plates. Once you identify the shape in an experiment, and come up with a mathematical description of it, you can tabulate the parameters for the natural frequency of that plate.

Unfortunately, sometimes sound waves have difficulties exciting some of the modes of the plate and you miss them. In addition, if the plate isn't laying flat, the sand has a tendency to vibrate off the plate.

If you use high tech materials, like graphite epoxy composites, the mode shapes get very interesting like the one in the video. Standard metals tend to be boring :-)


Leave a comment


Subscribe to MAKE!Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

Subscribe today, save 42% and get web access to MAKE free. MAKE Digital Edition is available only to subscribers.

$34.95 / 1 year
(4 Quarterly Issues)

Subscribe now


Void your warranty, violate a user agreement, fry a circuit, blow a fuse, poke an eye out. Make: The risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things... Welcome to Make: Online!


CRAFT Maker Shed Maker Faire MAKE television




Check out more videos from MAKE.

Maker SHED

Connect with MAKE

Be a MAKE fan on Facebook MAKE on Facebook
Visit our Facebook page and become a fan of MAKE!
MAKE on Twitter MAKE on Twitter
Follow our MAKE tweets!
MAKE Flickr Pool MAKE on Flickr
Join our MAKE Flickr Pool!
    make_tips on Twitter



    MAKE Archives

    Make: Money

    Make: Science Room
    Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

    Make: Online editors and authors!

    Gareth BranwynGareth Branwyn
    Editor-in-Chief


    Phillip TorronePhillip Torrone
    Senior Editor
    | Web | Twitter


    Becky SternBecky Stern
    Associate Editor
    | AIM | Twitter


    Marc de VinckMarc de Vinck
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter


    John ParkJohn Park
    Contributing Writer
    | Twitter


    Sean RaganSean Ragan
    Contributing Writer
    | Twitter


    Matt MetsMatt Mets
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter


    Dale DoughertyDale Dougherty
    Editor & Publisher
    | Twitter


    Shawn ConnallyShawn Connally
    Managing Editor
    | Twitter


    Goli MohammadiGoli Mohammadi
    Associate Managing Editor

    Kip KayKip Kay
    Weekend Projects
    | AIM | Twitter


    Collin CunninghamCollin Cunningham
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter

    Adam FlahertyAdam Flaherty
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter


    John BaichtalJohn Baichtal
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter



    More contributors: Mark Frauenfelder (Editor-in-Chief, MAKE magazine), Kipp Bradford (Technical Consultant/Writer), Chris Connors (Education), Diana Eng (Guest Author), Peter Horvath (Intern), Brian Jepson (O'Reilly Media), Robert Bruce Thompson (Science Room)

    Suggest a Site!

    Advertise here with FM.

    Why advertise on MAKE?
    Read what folks are saying about us!

    Click here to advertise on MAKE!



    Current Podcast

    itunesdl.gif Behind the Scenes at MAKE and CRAFT In January, many of the remote MAKE/CRAFT team members (myself included) convened at the Maker Media headquarters at O'Reilly Media in Sebastopol, California. Take a look behind the scenes of your favorite DIY publications as Goli Mohammadi gives us... More...

    Get the Make: Online sent via email
    Enter your email to receive Make: Online each day:



    Sign up for the Make: Newsletter

    Our Make: Newsletter covers news from maker Media, has original columns, Shed deals, and more! You can also read the archives of past issues.


     



    MAKE Fascination video series brought to you by Dow

    Make: Education
    MAKE: en EspaƱol MAKE: Japan
    Important please read


    Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

    Recent Posts from the Craft: Blog