Beat Patterns Notes
Notes:
Teaching Ideas and Suggestions:
This Interactive makes a great follow-up to a demonstration of beats using two Tuning forks. As depicted in the simulation, one would ideally have tuning forks mounted on sound boxes in order to amplify the sound sources. A rubber band can be wrapped around the tines of one of he tuning forks in order to increase its mass and thus llower its frequency. An exceptional illustration of the demonstration can be found at The Kids Should See This website. If at all possible, be sure to conduct the demonstration live for your students.
We believe that the most valuable role of this Interactive is to help students understand the model that explains the perception of beats. Beats are an interference phenomenon. The perception of sound of maximum loudness occurs during moments when sound waves from the two sources are undergoing constructive interference. The perception of minimum loudness is observed when the sound waves from the two sources are undergoing destructive interference. By setting the Zoom level in the simulation to 10X or 32X or 100X, the two component waves are clearly visble and their interference can be shown to students.
Related Resources:
- Reading:
Lesson 3 of the Sound Chapter of the Tutorial are perfect accompaniments to this Interactive. The following page will be particularly useful in helping students to understand beats as an example of sound wave interference:
Interference and Beats
- Minds On Physics Internet Modules:
The Minds On Physics Internet Modules include a collection of interactive questioning modules that help learners assess their understanding of physics concepts and solidify those understandings by answering questions that require higher-order thinking. Assignment WM6 of the Wave Motion module provides a great complement to this Interactive. Minds On Physics is best used in the middle to later stages of the learning cycle. Visit the Minds On Physics Internet Modules.
- Curriculum/Practice: Several Concept Development worksheets at the Curriculum Corner will be very useful in assisting students in cultivating their understanding, most notably ...
Interference of Waves
Visit the Curriculum Corner.
Visit: Beat Patterns Interactive
Return to Screen Reader Navigation