Do I need to install anything?

No. It runs in any modern browser, free, with no account required.

For Hobbyists & Makers · Chladni Plates

Chladni Plates for a sonar ping

Built for hobbyists & makers exploring it for fun. Play with real physics and math, no license and no setup — just open and tinker. Simulate a sonar ping live below — adjust the inputs and watch it respond, right in your browser.

Chladni Plate PatternsLive

visible standing waves

Controls

Presets

Mode m

Mode n

Bow or drive a metal plate at a resonant frequency and sand sprinkled on top dances away from the moving areas and settles along the still nodal lines — Chladni figures. Each pair of mode numbers gives a different symmetric pattern, a direct, physical picture of a two-dimensional standing wave.

▶ Run in Python

Data Inspector

Mode(2, 3)

Symmetryodd

Patternnodal lines

Governing equation

cos \frac{2 π x}{L} cos \frac{3 π y}{L} - cos \frac{3 π x}{L} cos \frac{2 π y}{L} = 0

Reading this result: Modes (2, 3) sum to an odd number, breaking the diagonal symmetry so the sand figure differs across the two diagonals.

Runs locally in your browser — free forever. Scale to the cloud when reality gets heavy.

or unlock everything with Pro →

Also for:Students Researchers Educators Engineers K-12 Students First Responders General version →

More with Chladni Plates

Chladni Plates for a guitar string Chladni Plates for a concert hall Chladni Plates for a speaker Chladni Plates for a drum head Chladni Plates for a sound wave Chladni Plates for a piano note Chladni Plates for a noise barrier Chladni Plates for a whisper gallery

Frequently asked questions

Is this good for hobbyists & makers?: Yes — this version of "Chladni Plates for a sonar ping" is framed for hobbyists & makers exploring it for fun. Play with real physics and math, no license and no setup — just open and tinker.
Do I need to install anything?: No. It runs in any modern browser, free, with no account required.