compound wave motion demonstration
Date1900-1950
Inventory NumberRS1338
ClassificationWave demonstration device
Subject
Maker
American
?
Cultural Region
Dimensionswhen mounted: 109 x 35 x 35 cm (42 15/16 x 13 3/4 x 13 3/4 in.)
Material
DescriptionApparatus used for the demonstration of wave motion. It consists of silver and black balls attached in pairs on 19 rods. The latter are in turn attached at regular intervals to a suspension spring.
In Collection(s)
Signedunsigned
FunctionThis device is used to visualize several properties of waves. It would be hung from its ends, and then waves would be generated by making movements on one of the dumbbells. The waves would then propagate along the strip to the adjacent dumbbells. One can visualize several properties of waves such as superpositions, reflections, and different kinds of waves (torsional, transversal).
The different arrangements at the end of the metal strip indicate that this one was probably meant to be hung vertically.
A modern version of this demonstrational device is described at this MIT
website.
The different arrangements at the end of the metal strip indicate that this one was probably meant to be hung vertically.
A modern version of this demonstrational device is described at this MIT
website.
E. S. Ritchie & Sons
Date: 1867-1886
Object number: 1996-1-0354
American
Date: 1870-1920
Accessories: box; wooden handle
Object number: 2007-1-0098
Friedrich Fessel
Date: 1850-1864
Accessories: additional wave troughs (2)
Object number: 1996-1-0411
E. S. Ritchie & Sons
Date: 1867-1886
Object number: 1996-1-0354a
Damon Engineering, Inc.
Date: 1962-1972
Object number: 2006-1-0079
Carl Zeiss, Optische Werkstätte, Jena
Date: circa 1898
Accessories: oculars (4): 2, 4, and compensating oculars 6, 8; objectives: AA, DD, a2, and apochromat HI 2.0 mm; triple nosepiece; swing-out condenser with iris-cylinder diaphragm; disk diaphragm and central stop diaphragm; filter; eyepiece micrometer, brush, spare stage clips; large mechanical stage (2006-1-0114b); centering glass (2006-1-0114c) with instructions; magnification tables (2); standing case; key; leather traveling case (2006-1-0114d).
Object number: 2006-1-0114a
