Abstract

Lecturers in mathematical modelling courses are always on the lookout for new examples to illustrate the modelling process. A physical phenomenon, documented as early as the nineteenth century, was recalled: when a wineglass "sings", waves are visible on the surface of the wine. These surface waves are used as an exercise in mathematical modelling. Based on assumptions about the wine in the glass and observations illustrated with photographs, a mathematical problem is set up. This problem includes a non-homogeneous Neumann boundary condition on the lateral side of the glass. The solution to the mathematical problem is animated using Mathematica[TM]. The predictions of the model are tested by comparing them with the known facts. The predictions of the model agree with the actual observations. (Contains 11 figures.)

Citation

Voges, E.L. & Joubert, S.V. (2008). The Singing Wineglass: An Exercise in Mathematical Modelling. International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 39(6), 725-739. Retrieved August 7, 2024 from https://www.learntechlib.org/p/103165/.

This record was imported from ERIC on April 19, 2013. [Original Record]

ERIC is sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the U.S. Department of Education.

Copyright for this record is held by the content creator. For more details see ERIC's copyright policy.

Keywords

• Animation
• Computer Uses in Education
• mathematical models
• Mathematics Instruction
• Prediction
• problem solving
• Structural Elements (Construction)
• teaching methods