Waves

Traveling Waves

Video RealVideo®
6:41 minutes (44:12 - 50:53)

How radio waves are generated from oscillating charges, with a demo of a radio transmitter in the classroom.

Instructor: Prof. Walter Lewin
Prior Knowledge: None
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Standing Waves

Video RealVideo®
3:48 minutes (18:20 - 22:08)

Creating standing waves with first, second, and higher order harmonics by shaking a string up and down.

Instructor: Prof. Walter Lewin
Prior Knowledge: Standing Waves (8:48 of VL26)
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Video RealVideo®
3:15 minutes (35:27 - 38:42)

How wind instruments create sound using standing waves in the air, including a demonstration of a large pipe which creates sound after a copper grid in the pipe is heated and then cooled.

Instructor: Prof. Walter Lewin
Prior Knowledge: Musical Instruments (22:08 of VL26)
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Video RealVideo®
4:28 minutes (33:15 - 37:43)

Using simple versions of a flute, trombone, and wind organ to demonstrate the way they produce different notes. Also a demonstration of a sounding board used to amplify the sound from a tuning fork and a music box.

Instructor: Prof. Walter Lewin
Prior Knowledge: Musical Instruments (22:08 of VL26)
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Video RealVideo®
9:47 minutes (37:43 - 47:30)

Seeing the sound waves produced by a violin, clarinet, bassoon, and saxophone at the same frequency to show that each instrument combines harmonics in a different way to produce distinct sounds.

Instructor: Prof. Walter Lewin
Prior Knowledge: Musical Instruments (22:08 of VL26)
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Video RealVideo®
3:37 minutes (47:30 - 51:07)

Explaining how the speed of sound is higher in a helium filled environment, including a demonstration of how this affects the sound of a person's voice.

Instructor: Prof. Walter Lewin
Prior Knowledge: Musical Instruments (22:08 of VL26)
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Video RealVideo®
3:22 minutes (8:17 - 11:39)

Amplitude of shuttle on air track observed for high and low, then resonant, driving frequency.

Instructor: Prof. Walter Lewin
Prior Knowledge: Driving Frequencies (Beginning of V31)
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Video RealVideo®
4:12 minutes (27:21 - 31:33)

Music from tube open at both ends, wooden flute; Jingle Bells on wooden trombone.

Instructor: Prof. Walter Lewin
Prior Knowledge: Resonance in Cavities (20:58 of V31)
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Video RealVideo®
8:53 minutes (31:33 - 40:26)

Examples from life; tuning forks; breaking a wine glass with an appropriate sound frequency.

Instructor: Prof. Walter Lewin
Prior Knowledge: Resonance (Beginning of V31)
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Video RealVideo®
2:57 minutes (45:08 - 48:05)

Higher speed of sound in Helium allows higher voice.

Instructor: Prof. Walter Lewin
Prior Knowledge: Ersatz Musical Instruments (27:21 of V31)
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