Code Number: 3D40.19-2

Demo Title: Musical Saw

Condition: Excellent

Principle: Resonance in Solids

Area of Study: Oscillations & Acoustics

Equipment:

Musical Saws, bows, bowing rod, mallet, and rosin.

Procedure:

The instructions are in the file on how to hold the saws and where to bow or strike on them. Practice will be needed for this demo.

Listen to the CD of the Musical Saw being played in the Music files and tapes cabinet.

References:

Henry Levinstein, "The Physics of Toys", TPT, Vol. 20, #6, Sept. 1982, p. 358, also a Potpourri of Physics Teaching Ideas - Toys, p. 269.
Pat Murphy, Ellen Macaulay, and the staff of the Exploratorium, Exploratopia, p. 205.
Stewart Russell, "An Introduction to the Musical Saw", https://scruss.com/enterprise.net/musicalsaw.html, 2002.

Musical Saws PDF

Disclaimer

These demonstrations are provided only for illustrative use by persons affiliated with The University of Iowa and only under the direction of a trained instructor or physicist. The University of Iowa is not responsible for demonstrations performed by those using their own equipment or who choose to use this reference material for their own purpose. The demonstrations included here are within the public domain and can be found in materials contained in libraries, bookstores, and through electronic sources. Performing all or any portion of any of these demonstrations, with or without revisions not depicted here entails inherent risks. These risks include, without limitation, bodily injury (and possibly death), including risks to health that may be temporary or permanent and that may exacerbate a pre-existing medical condition; and property loss or damage. Anyone performing any part of these demonstrations, even with revisions, knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks associated with them.

Instructional Resources and Lecture Demonstrations

3D40.19-2 - Musical Saw

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