Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2025

Induction of Microstreaming by Nonspherical Bubble Oscillations in an Acoustic Levitation System
Published on: May 9, 2021
Particle size effects on stable levitation positions in acoustic standing waves
Wolfgang Rueckner1, Joseph Peidle1, Allen Crockett1
1Harvard University Science Center, Harvard University, 1 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
Abstract:
Schlieren images can show a two-dimensional representation of pressure distributions. Using this method, we have demonstrated that there is a particle size effect for levitating solid elastic Styrofoam spheres in an ultrasonic acoustic standing wave: (1) spheres of density 13.3 kg/m3 and diameters less than 0.58 λ levitate at pressure nodes, and (2) spheres larger than 0.66 λ levitate with their centers at pressure antinodes. Pressure measurements of ultrasonic standing waves made in conjunction with their schlieren images to identify pressure nodes and antinodes are presented. These observations contribute to prior experimental and theoretical research concerning the influence of particle size on levitation.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Standing Waves in a Cavity
Oscillations about an Equilibrium Position
Modes of Standing Waves: II
For a tube open at one end and closed at the other filled with air, the modes are such that there is always an antinode at the open end and a node at the closed end....
Modes of Standing Waves - I
Sound Waves: Resonance
The de Broglie Wavelength

