Theremin
From UO Physics Demonstration Catalog
Return to Capacitance
Description:
Moving a hand closer to the horizontal bar decreases the sound level. Moving your hand closer to the vertical antenna will increase the pitch. Volume can also be adjusted with the knob on the front of the theremin and on the amplifier. The antenna as a theremin acts as one plate of a parallel plate capacitor, and your hand acts as the second. Since your hand is a conductor, this varies the capacitance and therefor the resonant frequency of the oscillator in the Theremin. The sound can also be set-up to drive the flame tube for extra fun.
Location:
- Theremin and power supply (Shelf J-0)
- Amplifier
- Mic stand