exploratorium

Exhibits

  • Catch the Sound Waves exhibit

  • Find your rhythm—or bring to life the music in your head.

Catch the Sound Waves

These simple glass tubes separate the sounds of the Exploratorium into distinct tones.

Where:   Bechtel Gallery 3: Seeing & Listening
Exhibit Developer:   Robert Larue (Bob) Miller
Subjects:
Phenomena: Harmonics, Information and Noise, Natural Frequency, Resonance, Wave Excitation, Wave Guide
Keywords: musical instruments, pitch, tuning
Aliases: Pipes of Pan
Collections: Listen, Seeing the Light

More to explore

Science activity that demonstrates resonance of sound waves
Pipes of Pan
When you hold a seashell to your ear, you can hear a steady roar.
Science activity to play songs by banging the end of a PVC pipe against your palm
Palm Pipes
Play songs by banging a PVC pipe against your palm.
Science activity that demonstrates resonance of sound waves
Organ Pipe
Get Bach to the fundamentals.
Science activity to create an instrument that produces sound from a vibrating stretched membrane
Water-Bottle Membranophone
This surprising instrument is fun to make—and even more fun to play.

Related exhibits
The Wave Organ

Listen to the sound of the sea.

Chladni Singing

Use your voice to make visible patterns in sand.