Quick Answer: The Wave Motion Apparatus (24 Pulleys) STEM Lab is a hand-cranked wave machine in which 24 eccentric cams, each offset by 15°, drive 24 steel rods with coloured spheres up and down to show a travelling transverse wave.
Last updated: October 2026
Key Features
24 eccentric cams on a steel crankshaft, offset 15° from one another
24 polished steel guide rods with high-visibility polymer spheres
Manual hand crank on low-friction bearings
Powder-coated sheet metal base frame
Approx. 580 mm x 130 mm x 320 mm, about 2.95 kg
Technical Specifications
Specification
Value
Cams
24 eccentric cams, 15° phase division
Rods
24 steel guide rods with polymer spheres
Drive
Manual hand crank, low-friction bearings
Base
Powder-coated sheet metal frame
Dimensions (L x W x H)
Approx. 580 mm x 130 mm x 320 mm
Weight
Approx. 2.95 kg
About This Product
Turning the crank moves each sphere in simple harmonic motion, a little behind its neighbour, so a sine wave appears to run along the row while each sphere only goes up and down. Because the 24 steps of 15° add up to one full turn, one complete wavelength is shown, and students can point out crests, troughs, amplitude and phase, and see how cranking faster raises the frequency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the cams of the Wave Motion Apparatus (24 Pulleys) STEM Lab offset by 15°?
Each cam is 15° ahead of the next, so the 24 cams together cover one full cycle and the spheres trace one complete wavelength.