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In the April 1998 issue of The Physics Teacher there were two articles on
Wind Chimes. That gave me the following idea:
Cut electrical conduit into various lengths.
Give each student (or group of two) a length of conduit and a rubber hammer
and the instructions to hold the conduit between their fingers with one
hand and strike it with the hammer held in the other. Experiment to find
the best place to hold and hit in order to produce the most pleasing sound.
Then answer the following questions:

-What is the length of the tube (L)
-How far from the top should it be held (S) and how critical is this?
-How far from the top should it be struck (H) and how critical is this?
-What is the frequency of the sound (f) (Use frequency meter or zero beat
with audio generator).
-Tabulate data from different groups

My plan is to use that activity this week as a lead into (a) measurement
precision and accuracy (b) significant figures (c) types of variation
(direct, inverse, square,...) and then (d) attempt to determine the type of
function relating L and S and also L and f. For a conceptual class you
might want less math.

I did something like this last year without considering the mathematical
relationship between L and f. The kids love making the noise. Then they
notice that they can't get good measurements with too much noise. Then they
begin cooperating with each other by voluntarily being quiet!

I will be doing this experiment with extensions this week. If you want more
information, email me off list.


Br. Robert W. Harris
Catholic Memorial High School
rwharris@cath-mem.org
http://www.cath-mem.org/physics/contents.htm


-----Original Message-----
From: fred brace <fredb@TELEPORT.COM>
To: PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu <PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu>
Date: Saturday, September 11, 1999 9:05 PM


I teach conceptual physics at a high school. I am looking for lab
activities in waves and sound. Any ideas?