Foundation Physics - Resonance Tube

Please Note: The Foundation Physics Universal Stand is not included with the Resonance Tube and will need to be purchased separately using code PP00054183.

• The Foundation Physics range centres around the Universal Stand and includes accessories which allow a wide range of experiments to be conducted. Each add-on includes a comprehensive instructional guide with student tasks which are linked to the curriculum. The Universal Stand is required for each add-on.

The Foundation Physics Resonance Tube is uniquely constructed to act as a resonance tube when used with the Foundation Physics Universal Stand.  This simple device consists of an 80cm acrylic tube with a mounted metric scale on its side. Place a container of play dough beneath the tube to demonstrate the conservation of energy. When a mass is dropped from the top of the tube it drives a nail into a container of play dough at the bottom. Dropping the mass from different heights pushes the nail in varying depths. 

Since the velocity at the top of the tube is zero, students can then use the idea of conservation of energy to determine the kinetic energy at the bottom of the tube and the amount of work done on the nail. When the nail holder and play dough are removed from the apparatus, it can be used as a resonance tube. Striking a tuning fork near the bottom of the tube and slowly lifting on the masses inside the tube will yield positions where the tone is louder. Students can use this to investigate the wavelength of different tuning forks and to approximate the speed of sound.

A photogate system (not included) could be added to the system to take speed of sound measurements.

The Resonance Tube Kit includes: 

• Two different sized dropping masses
• 80 cm long tube
• Mounting hardware
• Nail holder
• Two nails of different sizes
• Three tuning forks
• A tub of play dough
• Instructions
• Teachers Guide
• Students Guide

Additional apparatus required:

• Foundation Physics Universal Stand
• Photogate System