High School (ages 14+)

Rijke Tube

Explore resonance, waves, and acoustics with this simple rijke (reekee) tube.

Rubens' Tube

Make a flaming tube to explore the physics of waves and acoustics.

The Rubens' Tube should be used with caution and vigilance, especially if used indoors. 

 

Audio Amplifier

Build a cost-effective amplifier for your SPS chapter, or use this as a workshop template for community outreach. Empower participants by helping them create an effective, useful, and integral electronic device.

Chladni Plates - Violin Bow

Recreate E.F.F. Chladni's classic demo of sprinkling sand on a plate and playing it with a violin bow to create and visualize various vibrational patterns. This versatile demo can be adapted to talk about sound wave acoustics, vibrational normal modes, and energy transport to a wide range of audiences. 

Chladni Plates - Speaker

Build a simple Chladni plate using a 6" x 6" metal sheet, a 2 watt speaker, powered with a 20 gain amplifier and phone. Sprinkle sand on the sheet, and play various sound frequencies to reveal the sheet's assortment of resonant vibrational modes. 

Along with the plate demo itself, an amplifier can be made fairly easily with an LM386 op amp. Download instructions for making the amplifier under associated files or can be found here. 

Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream

Explore the properties of liquid nitrogen while making a tasty treat. This demo is great for chapter socials and smaller outreach events.

Tuning Fork Workshop

Tuning forks are one of the few instruments that resonate with one distinct frequency. Create a workshop with tuning forks with this variety of quick, fun demos ranging from visualizing sound with lasers, to watching energy transfer through pendulums.

Simple Motor

Construct a simple motor out of everyday materials in this workshop. Particpants learn first hand how to leverage the science of electricity and magnetism to create useful tools that we use every day.

Eddy Currents

By dropping a magnet through a copper tube, participants learn how the magnetics fields can still interact with nonmagnetic materials. 

Homopolar Motor

Participants learn the everyday science of electric motors in this fun and engaging workshop activity. 

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