Demonstrations

Sand Pendulum

Code Number :	3A80.10
Disclaimer:	Reprinted by permission of Dick Berg, University of Maryland, for use on this website. The demonstrations contained and referenced herein are listed for the purposes of cataloging and describing physics demonstrations which should be conducted only under the direction of a trained instructional support professional or physicist. These demonstrations are not presented for the purpose of being conducted by persons unconnected to this Facility and/or persons not consulting with or being supervised by the recognized instructional support professional or physicist and his/her staff. The University is responsible only for those demonstrations carried out using its own equipment using established safety and scheduling policies, and bears no responsibility for those choosing to use this source material for their own purposes. All demonstrations described and contained herein are public domain, and can also be found in reference materials in libraries, bookstores, and electronic sources. Further information regarding legal liability in use of demonstrations and labs will be found on the web site Injuries in School/College Laboratories in USA. The University of Iowa Disclaimers: University of Iowa Disclaimer All Rights Reserved..
Condition :	Excellent
Principle :	Potential to Kinetic Energy, Simple Harmonic Motion
Area of Study :	Acoustics
Equipment :	Sand Pendulum, Sand, Black Cloth, Plexiglas Platform.
Procedure :	The Sand pendulum is a compound pendulum with two different support points and two different lengths which allow the pendulum to swing in two different planes thus giving lissajous figures.

References

Rand S. Worland, Matthew J. Moelter, "Two -Dimensional Pendulum Experiments Using a Spark Generator", TPT, Vol. 38, # 8, Nov. 2000, p. 489.

Thomas B. Greenslade, "All About Lissajous Figures", TPT, Vol. 31, # 6, Sept. 1993, p. 364.

Thomas B. Greenslade, Jr., "The Kaleidophone," TPT, Vol. 30, # 1, p. 38, (Jan. 1992).

Joe Pizzo, "The Sand Pendulum," TPT, Vol. 25, # 4, p. 240, (April 1987).

Edward H. Leonard, "A Whipped-Cream Pendulum", TPT, Vol. 4, # 2, Feb. 1966, p. 84.

Robert J. Whitaker, "Harmonographs. I. Pendulum Design", AJP, Vol. 69, # 2, p. 162, Feb. 2001.

Robert J. Whitaker, "Harmonographs. II. Circular Design", AJP, Vol. 69, # 2, p. 174, Feb. 2001.

Robert J. Whitaker, "A Note on the Blackburn Pendulum," AJP, 59, (4), April 1991.

Sn-1, 2: Freier and Anderson, A Demonstration Handbook For Physics.

M-926: "Blackburn's Pendulum," DICK and RAE Physics Demo Notebook.

Janice VanCleave, "22, Curves," Astronomy for Every Kid, p. 50.

Janice VanCleave, "Curves," 200 Gooey, Slippery, Slimy, Weird, & Fun Experiments, p. 6.

Mail Questions and Comments to: Dale Stille