Using wine glasses, strings, and bars to teach resonance at the undergraduate and graduate levels

Abstract

At Brigham Young University, two of the acoustics courses taught in the Physics and Astronomy Department focus on resonance topics. One of the undergraduate courses is a general education, descriptive acoustics course on musical instruments, speech, hearing, and audio. One of the graduate level courses using a differential equations approach to wave motion and resonances on strings, bars, membranes, and plates. In both of these courses, taught at very different levels, the concept of resonance is explored and analyzed. This presentation will discuss various demonstrations used in these classrooms and discuss how they are used in the learning development of the students. Demonstrations include wine glasses, strings, and bars.