Singing Rijke Tubes // Homemade Science with Bruce Yeany

The Rijke tube, first described and name after Dr. P.L. Rijke is extremely simple device and yet is a wonderful demonstration of thermoaccoustics,
(sound produced by thermal energy) it was first demonstrated dating back to approx. 1858. The device consists of a tube with a metal screen inserted about 1/4 or 1/5 of the way in from one of the end. The tube is activated by heating the screen with a Bunsen burner or torch sufficiently and when the tube is turned vertically emits a tone that will last up to about one minute.
The frequency is dependent on the temperature of the air inside the tube, measuring it from the start until the tubed cooled enough that sound stopped showed a change of about 3 Hertz.
Suggested length: I found success with various tube length but generally suggest the length should fall somewhere between 8 times to 24 times longer than the interior diameter of the tube, with the most success with a ratio of 14 to 1
no success with tubes smaller than 3/4 inch diameter and any tube less than 1 inch diameter may.not work with 3 screens thickness.
Longest successful tube so far has been a 7 feet long cardboard carpet tube
Tube types/ materials that I tried,
glass works well but must be borosilicate or pyrex suitable for high temperatures. Special care needed with glass and hot glass!
Stainless steel, my favorite tubes, work well, sounds lasts the longest of any of the tubes
aluminum works well
galvanized pipe works
steel vent pipe okay sound seemed to die out quickly
aluminum downspout interesting in that it was the only pipe that where it wa being held was critical, tube itself vibrates
copper, works but not well, conducts heat so quickly it gets hard to hold and does work when the bottom of the tube gets too hot
cardboard works but not as long as metal tubes, must if careful about heating the screen, love the big bass sound emitted by carpet tubes

[@AppliedScience]

Really cool demo! I liked all of your variations on the basic idea. Thanks for the video.

[@AtlasReburdened]

Oh thank goodness. You're here. Now I don't have to wonder if I'm weird for enjoying content made for a younger generation.

[@Name-js5uq]

@@AtlasReburdened hey don't worry about it, this is pure fun basic physics in action. Everybody gets to enjoy it,... there is no age limit on fun!

[@sanpol4399]

This is the science teacher I wanted to have during my school time.

[@Name-js5uq]

I have said that so many times every time I watch his videos that thought comes into my head he is a super grade teacher and we are extremely lucky he likes to post videos for us to enjoy and learn from.

[@JupiterThunder4]

Doing interesting things with science is easy. Doing interesting things that help students learn what they are supposed to learn as dictated by states and districts is not as easy. Especially when the focus is getting students to understand and apply the science rather than just being amazed by the cool thing done with the science.

[@meganbaker9116]

@@JupiterThunder4 What makes it hard for students to learn what they are "supposed to learn" is the breakneck pace at which they have information poured into them and are tested on it. Kids could learn quite intuitively about how everyday objects and cool experiments work, scientifically, if they were allowed to do it slowly and mostly indirectly, through play and playing around with the kinds of things Yeany has lying around. There is so much to be learned by merely talking and thinking about every day activities (such as the geometry lesson that happens when I explain to kids that, because my neighborhood is laid out in grid fashion, there are no shortcuts to my house from the park). Sadly, schools have no patience for this very effective kind of learning; it sacrifices real learning for opportunities to record grades and test scores. I understand that teachers probably don't like the breakneck pace either, but marching kids through it is what they signed up for. That it doesn't work doesn't seem to bother enough of them.

[@JupiterThunder4]

@@meganbaker9116 Assuming ng you're right (that does have some contribution) it doesn't impact what I stated. Bells and whistles do not science teach.

[@meganbaker9116]

@@JupiterThunder4 Thinking that learning anything outside the information dumping method is "bells and whistles" is exactly what's wrong with American public education.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

Very nice! I'm about 45 minutes away from releasing a video on thermoacoustic refrigeration. After that I've planned a follow up with some additional Rijke tube experiments. I've got an enormous 50x4" quartz tube waiting for me to play with. I like your tip on adding wood chips to the screen. I've been thinking about how to get a good smoke flow in the tube for some other filming purposes.

[@YeanyScience]

Hi Ben, Nice channel, I enjoyed the refrigeration video you just posted and look forward to seeing viewing more of your work

[@ErikHerman]

Bruce, Ben, I spent a lot of time, too much time, trying to make an electric Rijke tube for the Physics Bus. I tried hair dryer coil, toaster coil, wound it in different configurations, nothing worked. Lemme know if you figure it out or get an idea. Interesting that you can change the length without the placement of the mesh needing to change too!

[@steamer2k319]

@@ErikHerman construction heat gun?

[@YouArtMusic-Oficial]

hello I hope you read this message it would be great to see what happens if instead of doing it with heat you do it by connecting an amplifier at the bottom of the tube and amplifying infrasonic waves to produce powerful longitudinal waves at the upper end ...

[@KeithOlson]

Hmmm... Any of y'all try an induction heater to keep the screen hot? That, plus a servo-controlled sleeve could make for an interesting MIDI instrument.

[@connick14]

I always enjoy how much Bruce enjoys what he's demonstrating. The way he smiles and laughs with genuine enthusiasm while observing interesting phenomena, even though he's clearly seen them countless times before, is heartening and uplifting. If only we could all be a little more like him.

[@kleinjahr]

The three pipes together sound a lot like a train whistle.

[@fendergrab123]

Thank you! Us adults...I mean children need to continue learning everyday.

[@YeanyScience]

my wife sometimes refers to me as her 66 year old middle schooler, seems that I never get tired of experimenting with science ideas

[@vickielawson3114]

Mitch, then learn that you don't say "us adults" you say "we adults".

[@aquamastertheonlyone]

@@YeanyScience 1) It's NOT the air that vibrates, it's the SCREEN. It's like when you are at the water or having a rain shower, etc... and starts to shake. So, the SCREEN vibrates because of applying HEAT, then it moves (transfer the vibration to) the air and the air "vibrates". 2) Friend, in relation with this pipe: 10:04. You have to put your hands and force it as to generate sound, because the screen inside is loose (so when you tighten it you "fix" the screen inside the pipe and the screen can vibrate the air).

[@justayoutuber1906]

"We" adults

[@JoeZUGOOLA]

I've never been here before but I think I'm about to learn something!

[@jonas2431]

His channel is the best

[@musicandmayhem5573]

Welcome to class!

[@joshsk8erx1]

I have missed you. You always have such refreshing videos. Please keep posting more!

[@hunterboat]

Welcome back Bruce. Master class as always!

[@YeanyScience]

thank you, Ive been busy with some house remodeling projects and had my recording area filled with boxes, nice to be back

[@donames1438]

Welcome back!

[@grahamkight9111]

Yes finally your back, welcome back

[@MohamedIbrahim-ej6wb]

Thanks Prof. Bruce you are the first one who explain this very clear.

[@mitchd949]

This guy is fantastic. I'd wager kids are never late to his class and likely hate to leave when class is over.

[@SomethingWiley]

Friends. That depends on if he has structure in the manner of his preference of manners. When is close to the bell. One of my teachers got offended when my book and pencils went into my back pack while the last few words of the period were delivered.

[@lightdark00]

Welcome back after seven months! Glad to see a new video here!

[@leporinolocche2017]

When Mr. Yeany gets out it's daytime and when he gets in it's already dark. Wow, that's what I call physics.

[@IvanSN]

These videos never fail to put a smile on my face. Glad to see you again.

[@JoaoZagoSJC]

Hey Bruce. I am from Brazil. Your videos are awesome. I use them to entertain and teach my children. Thank you for creating interesting vídeos!

[@YeanyScience]

Glad you like them!

[@TheNormalUniverse]

Very well done story. Can’t wait to see more of your vids!

[@jasckon7994]

Yeany the White returns to us in our time of need.

[@BloodAsp]

Beautiful!

[@JAdams-jx5ek]

You're back! Love the science.

[@walter..morais]

I love ur videos, world need more passionate people like u. I learn so much with u, language too. I'm from Brazil. Keep making those master pieces, please!

[@YeanyScience]

wonderful to hear that it is helpful

[@justayoutuber1906]

I'd never seen this before in my life. Thanks!

[@VincentDP]

Stunning demo, thanks!

[@benderrodriquez]

Great content as always.

[@LaurentVitalis]

Wow, amazing as usual Bruce!

[@Ktulu789]

7:20 incoming train!! This is fascinating, Yeany!

[@yassermasood3423]

It's always great to take lesson from you sir.

[@tsviper]

As always, interesting, engaging just the best. Easy to follow 👌

[@antalz]

Great video once again! I'm now thinking of putting a nichrome wire in there so it can be heated permantently. Then you'd have a usable musical instrument.

[@YeanyScience]

I hope to see you post that

[@schitlipz]

Awesome as always!

[@AdricM]

great demo, going to add it to my forth of july playlist. great to see you back and doing videos!

[@jackhui2812]

YAY!! You're back!! Nice to see you post again Bruce. It looks like you're doing well. The three pipe train whistle was my favorite.

[@AndyCPugh]

Another awesome lesson! Thank you.

[@mekaerwin7187]

I promise to come back to see you so long as you promise to keep making great vids!

[@HOCAMHCM]

Where have you been? We miss you Mr. Yeany so much... I worried about you were ill. Thank Allah you are fine. Best wishes from Turkey.

[@YeanyScience]

Thank you Hocam, I truly appreciate your concern. I took some time off to do some long promised remodeling work around our house that I had been putting off. I was not able to use my old school setting due to Covid concerns, and the garage area that I film in was filled with construction material.

[@HOCAMHCM]

@@YeanyScience Thank you Mr. Yeany again. I am science teacher in the middle school. I learn useful experiment and new vision by your videos. You become my teacher too... Take care of yourself. See you soon.😊

[@XSpImmaLion]

Aaaayyy, it's our boy Bruce up again!

[@jareknowak8712]

Good to see You Sir!

[@alllmas]

You are amazing! One of a kind KZbin channel. Keep it up

[@JamesBiggar]

So many ideas. Thanks!

[@Krummers1]

Awesome sounds!

[@ignaciodominguez4505]

Bruce you are awesome, I've missed you...

[@kickwriteteach2313]

this is so great. I learned something new today.

[@jackcooper6521]

Bruce you are an absolute master

[@benjaminpmartin]

So cool! Thanks for sharing

[@matthewflanagan9097]

I'm happy to see a new video, I bet your old students really miss you

[@capfluff]

5:46 candle flame behavior is completely contr intuitive. Thanks for the lesson!

[@Jacksirrom]

This should be a band instructor science teacher crossover demo in schools. So cool.

[@aszi77]

You're a genius, man!

[@rubenpereal.9906]

Good demonstration, as always. Good to see you again. Long time no see

[@zulfequar_ali]

Wow.!! I enjoyed it 😊

[@davidscott5903]

I love your videos!

[@ericstorm4613]

The best video on Rijke tube .

[@NicoSmets]

I was unfamiliar with this effect. Thank you for showing.

[@davidvwilliamson]

thank you. loved it

[@mdderrek9280]

That was amazing,, i really enjoyed it

[@shrinidhikulkarni5703]

Great video

[@xrayblaster4874]

You're back!

[@Latheman666]

Awesome!

[@AlexanderGosselin]

Truly tremendous.

[@uelssom]

woah thats awesome!!

[@protectme4278]

With some work, you could rig up a bunch of these things and put heating elements inside the mesh. Hook up some controls, and you'd get a really laggy organ! ...and probably a tripped breaker or two :D

[@stayathomephysics1766]

you are a great teacher أنت استاذ ممتاز

[@soubhagyarajkhandual]

You are alive!! I thought we lost you in 2020.

[@ffirstllast3328]

Odysee platform has great channels like this also - always great to learn!

[@thisisajewtube]

Greaat video!

[@ggesar2763]

Awesome!! Thankyou :-D

[@extrastuff9463]

Came here from recent NightHawkInLight video that referenced this in the description. Quickly skimmed the video titles and descriptions as well, I expect those will be interesting based on how you handled this subject. Also tempting to check my shed, I think I've got some scrap materials around that might just be suitable for this purpose. It wouldn't be efficient at all, but a PTC heating element inside the tube hooked up to a relay which gets enabled by the doorbell or a motion sensor for a few minutes could be neat as well. Depending on the heating element maybe a bit too slow to respond as a doorbell but could still be fun! One thing will never stop entertaining me though, what the pronunciation of words with a Dutch origin end up getting by speakers of other languages. For example I don't think I've heard any English speakers except one or two museum curators and one linguist say Vincent van Gogh anywhere near correct. But that's fine really, it wouldn't make sense to expect people to know that ij digraph in our weird language.

[@boumbh]

I'll always be here to see you again.

[@YeanyScience]

I'll be back

[@SOME_WORDS]

Very cool

[@fraydnot]

A true teacher at heart, passing on knowledge to all who will watch. I was wondering if you could add current instead of a flame?

[@YeanyScience]

thank you, there are some that have been successful using a heating coil, in this video I was go with the simpler method

[@donmorton9449]

Very nice

[@gallumbucket4131]

enjoyed this immensley.. I went to public school in texas where science was secondary to ball chunkin so had very little science classes

[@SomethingWiley]

This is so cool

[@SomethingWiley]

What is it that's so cool. I think it is the possibility of a great artifact of someone was to adopt this method of signal generation for musical purposes. But of course it's going to be removed in post processing. Banging video though ☺️ have fun Mr Yeany

[@mishademidjuk8151]

bravo!!!

[@RancorSweetly]

what a master

[@AkariInsko]

This is pretty interesting

[@ScienceGuides]

I had a student job in a science center, where we had a huge organ of these tubes. Thanks again for a beautiful video! Was thinking if it would work with a full 360 degree bend on them, as long as there was a net height difference?

[@robin2080]

8:20 Oh man it sounds like the aliens from Arrival! So Cool!

[@ffirstllast3328]

Yes!

[@victorboucher675]

Wow!

[@sanpol4399]

03:29 It was never so easy to visualize a thermal current before.

[@trinaroberts9883]

How ace! I am going to entertain the kids (and me) by doing this with the flue for my tent stove :) I guess the reason the tent stove flue doesn’t vibrate is because the air space (fire space) that is the air intake for the flue is already hot. Still makes me wonder why the air vents on the front of the stove don’t contribute to this effect, that would be interesting, a trombone/tent stove musical heat source. Thanks for your great videos!

[@magicicicle2504]

SUCH A GOOD VIDEO!! Let me go pull out one of my downspout pipes!

[@YeanyScience]

it's funny how quite often I find ideas in the middle of shooting, so I am never fully aware of what I will end up with

[@aw3man_]

Interesting. I wonder if you could use a heating element in place of the blowtorch to heat the steel mesh

[@sirrichter5336]

Missed yuh bruce

[@YeanyScience]

thank you, good to be back

[@josemanuelmedajara6670]

Hi Bruce! Great video as always, could you explain in a latter video If the diameter of the tube plays a role and if so which? Does one need more energy to make a small tube vibrate?

[@YeanyScience]

Hi Jose, yes, I planned on a follow up video and will address that along with some other questions. At the moment I'm working on a few other videos as I wait for supplies that I ordered for part 2

[@Resonanttheme]

That was interesting about the downspout and how it was held. I noticed with some 3 and 5 foot lengths of quartz tubing if held with only thumb and forefinger and struck with a rubber hammer for testing knee jerks, they only like to ring when held at certain points too. There are so many things to try with tubes. As an aside if my quartz tubing is rubbed up ad down with a wet cloth, the sound becomes annoyingly loud where it starts to hurt your ears. There is this other way to make sound from a tube by simply filling it with water as told by John Tyndall. Musical Flow of a Liquid through a Small Aperture When the wetted finger is moved round the edge of a glass, the breaking up of the friction into rhythmic pulses expresses itself in music. Savart’s beautiful experiments on the flow of liquids through small orifices bear immediately upon this question. We have here the means of verifying his results. The tube A B, Fig. 113, is filled with water, its extremity, B, being closed by a plate of brass, which is pierced by a circular orifice of a diameter equal to the thickness of the plate. Removing a little peg which stops the orifice, the water issues from it, and as it sinks in the tube a musical note of great sweetness issues from the liquid column. This note is due to the intermittent flow of the liquid through the orifice, by which the whole column above it is thrown into vibration.

[@lightdark00]

There's popular videos of using sticks/tubes for sound by striking them, so it's now time to make a music video like those pipes!

[@Arnold1987]

"a very happy sound" Well.... not if you hear that sound storming towards you whilst broken down on the train tracks! Awesome video, now I am thinking about building a heat based church organ... will require a ton of moving bits though. 🎼📯🔝📣🎹🧯 would be a stack of musical chimneys

[@YeanyScience]

I hope to see your results

[@55Ramius]

I wonder if you use a heating element with a screen to sustain the sound or maybe work with a heating element alone.

[@QF2653]

when using two pipes of slightly different lengths is the beat frequency the difference between the two?

[@hansisaksson887]

Cool demo! Is it the length from the net to the end of the pipe that decides the frequency or from one end to the other? Does the width have any effect?

[@certainlynotthebestpianist5638]

I'm wondering... if you made the screen to be constantly heated, for example make it from high-resistance wire and plug it in, you could produce a lasting note? And if you had plenty of such pipes, you could make a musical instrument by opening and closing them to enable and restrict the airflow?

[@YouArtMusic-Oficial]

creo que el efecto que produce el mover la franela en la ultima parte del video es porque el sonido se transmite y vibra por las paredes del mismo tubo no solo por las inferiores y exteriores ...

[@steventhehistorian]

What would happen if the pipe had a single bottom inlet containing the screen and then branched into 3 different length outlets? Would it be possible to make multiple tones with a single screen or would the air tend to rise only through the least restrictive outlet?

[@crazyecracker]

Anyone else see the still and think Bruce rolling mad blunts

[@Otacon9611]

Would this work if you heated the screen with induction?

[@fredgotpub871]

Cool, it looks like a pulso with out any valve isn't it ?

[@aeromodeller1]

Would it work by blowing air through a horizontal tube with a fan?

[@quintessenceSL]

Bruce Yeany... basshead. I recall some bloke wanting to construct solar updraft towers in the Outback as a renewable energy source (don't laugh. Minimal parts). Could have gotten arts funding if he would have tweaked it as a solar chime.