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  1. Oscillations and Waves
  2. Instruments
  3. Resonance in Plates, Bars, Solids
  4. 31

Chladni's Figures: Vibrational modes of a metal plate

3D40.31 • B+55+7

diagram for demo

In this demonstration, an electric speaker is driven by a signal generator which constantly varies the frequency of vibrations. The meter shows the frequency of vibrations per minute (Hertz). About eighteen different pattens can be made by tuning the speaker under the plate.

Related Demos


  1. PIRA
  2. 3D40
  3. Resonance in Plates, Bars, Solids
3D40.10 Xylophone. 3D40.20 Longitudinal wave apparatus: Ball bounces off end of stroked rod. 3D40.30 Chladni's disc: Bowed disk forms patterns in sprinkled salt. 3D40.51 Large glass bowl with ping pong balls and violin bow. 3D40.55 Beaker is broken by sound from speaker.
  1. UCB
  2. B+55
  3. Vibrational Modes
B+55+0 Film loop: "Vibrations of a metal plate", 3:45 min. B+55+1 Film loop: "Vibrations of a drum", 3:25 min. B+55+5 Chladni's disc: Bowed disk forms patterns in sprinkled salt. B+55+10 Large glass bowl with ping pong balls and violin bow. B+55+15 Young's modulus rod: Hammer and rod with nodes marked. B+55+20 Longitudinal wave apparatus: Ball bounces off end of stroked rod. B+55+25 Kundt's tube: Powder in tube shows standing waves. B+55+30 Applet: Vibrational Modes of a Circular Membrane B+55+35 Applet: Hotel webcam of pool during California Eartquake 2010 B+55+40 Applet: Vibrational Modes of a Rectangular Membrane
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