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🔊 Acoustic Levitation Explained

3D simulation of standing ultrasonic waves trapping small particles at pressure nodes, with adjustable frequency, amplitude and emitter count to watch particles jump between nodes or fall when the field is weakened.

Acoustics2DModerate60 FPS

Two opposing ultrasonic transducer arrays fire sound waves at each other, forming a standing wave whose pressure nodes act as invisible shelves that hold small beads against gravity.

🔬 What It Demonstrates

Pressure nodes sit every half wavelength apart, so raising the frequency shortens the wavelength and packs the nodes closer together, letting particles hop to a new resting height in real time.

🎮 How to Use

Tune the frequency to relocate the nodes, drag amplitude below the trapping threshold to watch particles fall, switch the emitter array size to see the field steady out, and toggle the field off entirely.

💡 Did You Know?

Because the radiation force scales with the square of amplitude, halving the drive voltage cuts the levitation force to a quarter — which is why real levitators need a comfortable safety margin above the trapping threshold.

⚙ Under the hood

acoustic-levitationstanding-wavesultrasoundpressure-nodessound-wavesphysics

2D · HTML5 Canvas 2D · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install