Chladni Plate Experimentation

WARNING: You may want to turn your volume down!
A student and I built a Chladni plate set up to demonstrate resonance on a solid surface. We used an aluminum plate 1 foot x 1 foot and placed it on a bare speaker (6.5" 250 Watt). The speaker was connected to an amplifier, with a frequency generator as an input. In this video, we experiment with different frequencies to create patterns.
The aluminum plate was coated with graphite powder, and we applied fine sand on it. More intricate patterns emerged at higher frequencies.
An base was built using a 5 inch x 5 inch piece of wood. Hex bolts were used as adjustable legs. The speaker can be placed on the base, and the legs adjusted to make the Chladni plate level.

[@godsalmighty6358]

What happens at low frequencies??
I tried it at nearly 60hz n it formed kind of mountains..
Is that supposed to happen???!!!

[@courtypoop]

Hi PE Robinson! How did you attach the metal plate onto the speaker? Is it just sitting on the top!? Cheers

[@perobinson]

+Courtney Hume Yes, I believe I just set it on top of the speaker, which had a ring of soft foam/rubber on it.