Interference - Quincke's Tube or Trombone


Image #2

Image #3

Image #4

Image #5

 

content.gif (1503 bytes)
 Code Number :   3B55.40  

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 :   Constructive & Destructive, Interference of Sound Waves  
Area of Study :  Acoustics  
Equipment :   Trombone apparatus, wave generator, Quincke's Interference Tube.  
Procedure :   The trombone is a simple way to show constructive and destructive interference.  Hook the speaker in the trombone to a wave generator and set the frequency to about 1000 Hz.  Pulling the slide on the trombone will cause the path length to change on one side of the apparatus, giving about 3 nodes and antinodes possible at this wavelength. 

The Quincke's Interference tubes can be used with someone speaking into it or what is probably easier is to use it with a wave generator and speaker so that you get a constant tone.  

One of the path lengths in the apparatus is approximately 50 cm longer than the other.   At around 350 Hz this apparatus will give a destructive interference.  By pinching off the long hose you can go from a node to an anti-node as seen on the oscilloscope.  At about 520 Hz you get constructive interference.  By pinching off the long hose here you will get a reduction on the size of the sine wave because of subtraction.   

conbot.gif (53 bytes)


   References

G.R. Davies, "Interference and Diffraction Corridor Demonstrations," TPT, Vol. 33, # 4, p. 244- 247, (April 1995).

Willard E. Singer, "Acoustical Interference Demonstration Apparatus", TPT, Vol. 3, # 6, Sept. 1965, p. 282.

 

Sg- 4:  Freier and Anderson,  A Demonstration Handbook for Physics.

 


Mail Questions and Comments to:  Dale Stille