Hello there. Two of my seniors in the AP
Physics class were studying standing waves and
they fashioned a Ruben's tube, which is a
perforated pipe filled with gas, mounted at one
end with a speaker driven by a function
generator. The speaker sets the gas into motion
and they see small flames in a standing wave
pattern from the holes in the pipe. The
question relates to the fact that they have had a
few small fires that burn their speakers, and of
course, are concerned about safety.
Question Date: 2004-03-10
Answer 1:
They should construct their tube out of
non-flammable materials, of course. You
also, I believe, need enough gas pressure coming
out of the spigot and into the tube that the gas
comes up out of the holes and does not stay in the
tube where it can catch fire.
