Quick Answer: The Transverse Wave Pendulum STEM Lab is a row of separately hung pendulums of steadily increasing length on nylon strings, released together by a bar so that their changing phase creates moving wave patterns. It measures about 450 mm x 150 mm x 460 mm.
Last updated: October 2026
Key Features
Row of independently hung pendulums, each a little longer than the last
Low-friction nylon suspension strings
Release bar for starting all pendulums at the same moment
Approx. 450 mm (L) x 150 mm (W) x 460 mm (H)
Technical Specifications
Specification
Value
Suspension
Nylon strings
Pendulum lengths
Progressively increasing
Operation
Manual, bar release
Dimensions (approx.)
450 mm x 150 mm x 460 mm
About This Product
The release bar pulls all the bobs back to the same small angle, typically 15° to 20°, and then frees them together. Because each length has its own period, the bobs drift out of step to form travelling waves, break up into apparently random motion and, within about 60 seconds, line up again, which helps explain period and length, phase difference and how a transverse wave can arise from many separate oscillators.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do the unconnected pendulums of the Transverse Wave Pendulum STEM Lab form a wave?
Each pendulum has a different length and so a different period; started together, their changing phase differences make a pattern that looks like a moving wave.
