Dumb Question: Tod or anyone

[Brad]

Tod,


I noticed in your transducer building pictures it appeared that the piezo elements were mounted with the metalic layer mounted perpendicular to a vertical plane when towed. I assumed the metalic layer of the piezo element would face outward; i.e. parallel to a vertical plane when towed.


Did I misinterpret your photos, or what?


Can anyone help?


Thanks,


Brad

[Tod]

Re: Dumb Question: Tod or anyone

Hi Brad,


Not so dumb of a question, it took me a while to under stand until I saw a demo at the science museum in DC. I'll try to explain. The narrower a piezo element the wider the angle of the wave and the longer it is the narrower the angle or flatter. This gives you a large up and down angle and a narrow front to back angle. Take the eraser end of a pencil and poke it in a bath tube of water , you get a ring wave propagating from the center. Then take the long edge of a credit card and do the same. What you get is a flatter or straighter wave propagating from the card.


Did this help?


Tod

[Brad]

Re: Dumb Question: Tod or anyone

Tod,


I guess that makes sense, I was thinking more along the lines of which direction the piezo elements would bend when a charge is applied, and I was thinking that in order to propagate a sound wave outward the piezo needed to face outward. Similar to a stereo speaker. I hate to sound like a skeptic, but I gather the transducer you took apart had the same orientation you used?


Thanks,


Brad