PIRA 3D50.10 Wave Dispersion: Sound Waves Propagating Through Slinky
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Instructions for Professor:
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Turn on the lecture microphone.
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Strike the top of the slinky with the rubber mallet provided. Wait for a few seconds
before striking the slinky again (allow it to come to rest by letting the initial wave
dissipate or hold on to the slinky to stop it from undulating).
Instructions for Demo Staff:
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Clamp the tripod onto the table.
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Use a right angle clamp to secure the shorter bar to the vertical bar.
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Sling the slinky on the horizontal bar.
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Note: Make sure there is enough space between the slinky and the table so it hangs freely.
- Attach the clip-on lecture microphone to the bottom of the slinky (right about where it begins to collect). Make sure that the microphone is clipped on to a single rung of the slinky and is secured.
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Test the demo to make sure the microphone is secured and does not rattle against the slinky
when waves are propagating through the slinky: strike the top of the slinky with the rubber
mallet provided and verify that you have a clean-sounding laser blaster.
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Once you are finished, turn off the lecture microphone and place it on the table on which the demo is set up on
Concepts Conveyed:
Picture shows demonstration used at the University
of Texas at Austin
Last Updated 2024 - University of Texas at Austin Physics Department - All Rights Reserved.