Wednesday 12 March 2014
The Ruben's Tube is a physics experiment demonstrating a standing wave. Invented by German physicist Heinrich Rubens in 1905.
Material required : A Long Metal Tube (Perforated along the top), Speaker or Frequency generator, Gas Cylinder, Lighter, etc
Different Models:
Material required : A Long Metal Tube (Perforated along the top), Speaker or Frequency generator, Gas Cylinder, Lighter, etc
Description: A length of pipe is perforated along the top. One ends of pipe is attached to a speaker or frequency generator, and other end connected with Gas Cylinder. When you switch on the gas supply, the pipe is filled with the gas, and the gas leaking from the perforations. Light the gas with the help of lighter.
When the speaker is turned on, it sends a series of waves of air down the tube at the speed of sound, these then reflect off the far end of the tube, so there are two sets of waves moving through the tube in opposite directions. For most wavelengths this does not produce a very interesting effect, but when the length of the tube is a multiple of half the wavelength the two waves add together to form what is known as a standing wave. This standing wave can be seen directly as differences in the height of the individual flames.
Notes : The tube can become very hot during Experiment.
For safety reasons, the Rubens Tube was set up outside. 
How do you get a standing wave in a round tube?