012-03177G
Variable Frequency Mechanical Wave Driver
3
¨
Suggested Uses
•
Wave Demonstrators
Use the Mechanical Wave Driver to drive a wave
demonstrator, such as PASCO's Model SE-9600 or
SE-9604, at any desired frequency and amplitude.
•
Waves in a wire or string
Use it to produce waves in a stretched wire or string,
as shown below. You can determine resonance fre-
quencies as a function of length, or you can examine
the relationship between wave velocity and the tension
and mass per unit length of the string or wire.
•
Driven Harmonic Motion
Use it to drive a mass on a spring and compare the am-
plitude of the oscillations with drive frequency. To at-
tach a spring to the Wave Driver, remove the plastic
cover to the banana plug connector by unscrewing it.
There will be a hole through the connector to attach
the end of the spring. Resonant modes of coupled os-
cillators can be investigated using air track gliders
coupled by springs.
•
Chladni Plates
Use it to vibrate sheets of metal or plastic, and observe
the standing wave patterns that are formed at resonant
frequencies. The patterns are easily seen by sprinkling
sand onto the surface of the metal or plastic sheet.
•
Ripple Tanks
Use the Mechanical Wave Driver as the wave source
in a ripple tank. You'll have full control of the wave-
length.
•
Molecular Motion
Use the Mechanical Wave Driver with a Molecular
Motion Model, such as PASCO Model SF-8563, to
demonstrate the kinetic theory of gases.
Specifications
Frequency Range: 0.1 Hz to 5 kHz.
Amplitude p-p:
7 mm at 1 Hz, decreasing with
increasing frequency.
Input Impedance: 8
Ω
Max Current:
1.0 A, fuse limited.
Nominal Current Req'd: < .25 A
Max Input:
6 V at 0.8 A
Limited Warranty
PASCO scientific warrants this product to be free from
defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one
year from the date of shipment to the customer. PASCO
will repair or replace, at its option, any part of the product
which is deemed to be defective in material or workman-
ship. This warranty does not cover damage to the product
caused by abuse or improper use. Determination of
whether a product failure is the result of a manufacturing
defect or improper use by the customer shall be made
solely by PASCO scientific. Responsibility for the return
of equipment for warranty repair belongs to the customer.
Equipment must be properly packed to prevent damage
and shipped postage or freight prepaid. (Damage caused
by improper packing of the equipment for return shipment
will not be covered by the warranty.) Shipping costs for
returning the equipment, after repair, will be paid by
PASCO scientific.
T T L
H I
Ω
G N D
L O
Ω
M I N
R A N G E
A D J U S T
M A X
O U T P U T
F R E Q U E N C Y
A M P L I T U D E
P I - 9 5 8 7 B
D I G I TA L F U N C T I O N
G E N E R AT O R - A M P L I F I E R
H E R T Z
WAV E F O R M
I N P U T
G N D
E X T E R N A L
Clamp
Mass
Support rod
Mechanical
driver
Function Generator
Pulley
Wire or string
Waves in a String or a Wire
