Purpose: To demonstrate the positions of nodes on a rod vibrating with its various harmonics.

An aluminum rod of length L = 183 cm, with marks at L/2, L/3, L/4, L/6, L/8, and L/10.

Hold the rod vertically by grasping with two fingers at one of the marks. Tap the end on the floor and listen for the sound after the original noise burst has damped out. Holding at different marks requires nodes at different points, and thus produces different harmonics. Note that L/3 is not a node, and, therefore, you get no persistent sound when you hold the rod there.

References:

Manual: None