Phase Difference Between Sound Waves Simulation
Description
This interactive simulation lets you visualize sound waves and measure the phase difference between them using microphones connected to a dual-channel oscilloscope. A sine wave generator drives a loudspeaker at a controlled frequency, and the microphones pick up the sound and convert it back into electrical signals displayed on the screen.
Start with a single microphone to see how a sound wave appears on the oscilloscope, then add a second microphone and slide them along the loudspeaker’s axis to watch the two waveforms shift relative to each other. When the waveforms are back in phase, the microphone spacing and the known frequency let you calculate the speed of sound in air. This experiment provides a hands-on virtual lab experience for understanding wave behavior, sound propagation, and phase relationships.
Features
- Sine wave generator with 100 Hz, 1 kHz, and 10 kHz ranges up to 20 kHz, adjustable frequency and amplitude, and an audible tone that can be muted.
- One or two microphones, selectable from the settings panel. The microphones slide toward or away from the loudspeaker, and their signals weaken with distance as in a real setup.
- Dual-channel oscilloscope with DUAL and ADD modes, vertical and horizontal sensitivity, and a magnifier that enlarges the screen while keeping the controls beneath it visible and usable.
- Measurement markers that snap to the tips of the microphones for an exact reading of the distance between them.
- Adjustable air temperature from 0 °C to 40 °C, with the speed of sound following the temperature.
- Guided tour that walks through every element of the simulation, with live demonstrations on the instruments.
Related Simulation
To measure the speed of sound with a different method – timing a sound pulse as it travels between two microphones – see Measuring the Speed of Sound: Time-of-Flight.