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Glam Journal

What does a Rubens tube show?

Author

Matthew Perez

Updated on March 21, 2026

What does a Rubens tube show?

The Ruben’s tube is a classic physics apparatus to show that sound waves are primarily pressure waves. It can be considered to be an older version of the oscilloscope and gives a visual demonstration of standing waves with the help of flames.

What instrument is a Rubens tube like?

The Rubens tube is closely related to an instrument like an organ which has one closed end. On the Rubens tube this end is the one with the metal cap.

How does the Rubens tube demonstrate standing waves?

They developed a flammable gas-filled tube with holes in the top that revealed the acoustic standing wave behavior via the height of flames above the tube.

Which of the following aspects of a Rubens tube changes the height of the flames?

The wavelengths of the sound change with the frequency of the pitch of the music, thus changing the height of the flames and how they dance.

Why do the flames move in a Rubens tube?

Both ends of the tube were sealed shut, flammable gas was pumped into the pipe, and a fitted speaker was attached to one of the ends. When the tube was filled with the flammable gas, there was only one route for the gas to escape through, thus creating a row of diffusion flames across the top of the pipe.

What is a Rubens’ tube used for?

Rubens’ tube. A Rubens’ tube, also known as a standing wave flame tube, or simply flame tube, is an antique physics apparatus for demonstrating acoustic standing waves in a tube. Invented by German physicist Heinrich Rubens in 1905, it graphically shows the relationship between sound waves and sound pressure,…

How many holes are in a Rubens tube?

This original Rubens’ tube was a four-meter section of pipe with 200 holes spaced evenly along its length. When the ends of the pipe are sealed and a flammable gas is pumped into the device, the escaping gas can be lit to form a row of flames of roughly equal size.

What happens when you play music in a Rubens tube?

In the Rubens’ Tube, the sound waves that we hear from the music are traveling through the flammable gas within the tube. As the sound travels down the length of the tube, localized pressure areas will occur. When these areas of pressure are higher, the gas will escape the surrounding holes faster, creating taller flames.

What is a Rubens gas propane tube?

The Rubens tube is a long aluminum pipe with one end closed off by a metal cap and the other capped with a silicone membrane. Going down the length of the pipe are 1/8″ holes that are spaced out every centimeter. On the side closest to the membrane there is a valve where propane gas can enter.