Resonator facts for kids

A standing wave in a rectangular cavity resonator

A resonator is something that resonates. This may make a particular frequency of a sound or other vibration become bigger.

Electromagnetics

In electromagnetics a cavity resonator is a resonator composed of a space that is usually surrounded by a dielectric or metal which allows standing wave patterns at particular frequencies, eigenmodes, correlated to their size, shape, and material.

Music

Most musical instruments have resonators. They are the parts which makes the sound louder. A vibraphone, for example, has long tubes underneath the keys. It also has a special effect: a mechanism which, when it is turned on, opens and shuts the resonators very quickly so that a trembling sound is heard.

The body of a violin is a resonator: without the body the sound of the string vibrating would hardly be heard, just as the sound of an elastic band stretched between two fingers can hardly be heard.

Images for kids

• 

  An illustration of the electric and magnetic field of one of the possible modes in a cavity resonator.

• 

  RF cavities in the linac of the Australian Synchrotron are used to accelerate and bunch beams of electrons; the linac is the tube passing through the middle of the cavity.

• 

  A sport motorcycle, equipped with exhaust resonator, designed for performance

• 

  A Dobro-style resonator guitar

See also

In Spanish: Resonador para niños