The resonance bowl demonstrates how friction between wet hands and the handles can create a vibration seen in water filling the bowl.
A couple of demonstrations I observed this week:
Juliana was at the program cart when a guest presented an idea utilizing the tuning forks. When the tuning forks are hit and touch the water various splashing strengths can be observed. The level of splash rubbing the handles creates is similar to the lowest HZ tuning fork.
William, a volunteer, created a large splash and what sounded like a few different notes. His hands are quite large with more surface area and his palms seem more arched. I wonder if the hand shape and duration of rubbing has an effect on the height of splash.
Matthew was at the program cart and used the rubber mallets to create the same effect rubbing the handles does. This is an effective method for younger kids who have a harder time rubbing the handles to create the resonance.
When Stephanie suggested using the violin bow to generate vibrations, it might have been interesting to see if the effect could be seen better in a bowl filled with sand rather than water.
Using soap to create bubbles and show the movement of the waves was helpful. It might be further helpful to use a floating object, such as a cork, to demonstrate the wave motions in the bowl.
Potential questions to ask and engage guests with:
What do you think this is?
What do you think will happen if I rub the handles?
Why do you think rubbing the handles causes this to happen?
What do you think will happen if we add water?
What do you think will happen if we remove water?
What do you see happening in the water?
Why do the ripples only form in certain spots?
Do you think we can change where the ripples form? How?
Basic concepts involving the resonance bowl:
Chladni patterns
Transverse waves
Standing waves
Antinodes
Nodes
-Samantha Brown
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