An instrument for determining fluid properties is provided. The instrument (300) includes a tube (304) receiving the fluid, a single magnet (302) attached to the tube, and a single coil (306) wound around the single magnet. The single coil is coupled to a pulse current source (312) and receives a pulse current that creates a magnetic field in the single coil, the created magnetic field interacting with the single magnet to drive the tube to vibrate. The instrument further includes a detector (306) coupled to the tube, wherein the detector is coupled to measurement circuitry (310) and detects properties of the tube as it vibrates, and the measurement circuitry determines the fluid properties based on the detected properties. The instrument also includes a housing (314) enclosing the tube, the single magnet, and the single coil wound around the single magnet.