The Interdisciplinary Laboratory

 Pre-Lab Assignment for Experiment #3:
Mechanical Resonance of a High-Rise Building

Week 1:

The following resonance data was taken from a three-foot-high model building.  Use this data to construct a resonance curve.  You should plot displacement in millimeters (on the y-axis) as a function of motor shaft frequency in Hz (on the x-axis).  Please submit either an electronic version or a hardcopy of your resonance curve to Professor Orwin (orwin@THUBAN.AC.HMC.EDU), Parsons 2367, no later than 7 PM on the Monday before your first laboratory period (October 27 or November 17).

Tachometer Frequency (Hz)	Accelerometer Voltage (mV, peak-to-peak)
24	50
39	75
54	90
75	120
86	150
97	200
109	2000
138	1750
154	900
172	1000
203	1000
240	1100

Week 2:

Describe a hypothesis that you would like to test regarding mechanical resonance of our model high-rise buildings.  Outline an experimental protocol for testing your hypothesis.  Please submit your description and protocol by email to Professor Orwin (orwin@THUBAN.AC.HMC.EDU) before 6 PM on the Sunday before the second laboratory meeting (November 2 or November 30).