Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 21, 2026

Proprioception and Tension Receptors in Crab Limbs: Student Laboratory Exercises
Published on: October 24, 2013
The dynamics and tuning of orchestral crotales
Bradley M Deutsch1, Cherie L Ramirez, Thomas R Moore
1Department of Physics, Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida 32707, USA.
Abstract:
An experimental and theoretical investigation of the acoustic and vibrational properties of orchestral crotales within the range C6 to C8 is reported. Interferograms of the acoustically important modes of vibration are presented and the frequencies are reported. It is shown that the acoustic spectra of crotales are not predicted by assuming that they are either thin circular plates or annular plates clamped at the center, despite the physical resemblance to these objects. Results from finite element analysis are presented that demonstrate how changing the size of the central mass affects the tuning of the instruments, and it is concluded that crotales are not currently designed to ensure optimal tuning. The possibility of using annular plates as crotales is also investigated and the physical parameters for such a set of instruments are presented.
Related Concept Videos
The Auditory Ossicles
The aptly named stapes look very much like a stirrup. The three ossicles are unique to mammals, and each plays a role in...
The Cochlea
Problem-Solving: Tuning of a Guitar String
The string's wave speed can be regulated by varying the linear density. Tension is the other property that determines the speed of...
Anatomy of the Ear
Torsional Pendulum
As long as the rigid body's angular displacement is small, its oscillation can be modeled as a linear angular oscillation. The amplitude of the oscillation is an angle. The role of mass is played by the...
Damped Oscillations
Although friction and other non-conservative...

