Chladni plate
Date: circa 1889
Inventory Number: 1997-1-1060a
Classification: Chladni Plate
Subject:
Maker: Rudolph Koenig (1832 - 1901)
Inventor: Ernst Florens Friedrich Chladni (1756 - 1827)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
8 x 22 x 22 cm (3 1/8 x 8 11/16 x 8 11/16 in.)
Bibliography:
Catalogue des appareils d'acoustique construits par Rudolph Koenig
Description:
Small square brass plate on three legged painted iron stand. Pattern lines have been lightly traced onto the surface of the plate.
As several other acoustical instruments in the collection, this one has an old location number inscribed on an oval paper glued to the base: 22-5-4. There is no old location number stamped on this instrument.
As several other acoustical instruments in the collection, this one has an old location number inscribed on an oval paper glued to the base: 22-5-4. There is no old location number stamped on this instrument.
In Collection(s)
Signedon plate, etched: RK
FunctionTo visualize two-dimensional vibration patterns. To create the patterns, one would have held the plate between two fingers at one of the vibration nodes, and with a fiddle bow would have struck the plate until the pattern emerged. It takes a good amount of practice to make this happen. Depending on which node and where you strike the plate, different patterns emerge. The nodes and antinodes from the vibrations are felt by the fine salt sprinkled on the plate, thus creating the visible patterns (the same way iron filings shows magnetic lines).
Several examples of Chladni plates can be seen on YouTube and elsewhere. See, for instance, the one from the Harvey Mudd College. In addition, a demonstration of a set of Chladni plates was produced for the Fondazione Scienza e Tecnica, Florence by Paolo Brenni and can be watched here.
Several examples of Chladni plates can be seen on YouTube and elsewhere. See, for instance, the one from the Harvey Mudd College. In addition, a demonstration of a set of Chladni plates was produced for the Fondazione Scienza e Tecnica, Florence by Paolo Brenni and can be watched here.
Primary SourcesRudolph Koenig, Catalogue des appareils d'acoustique construits par Rudolph Koenig (Paris, 1889), 57, no. 161.
