Wine glass sound physics behind

In summary, the resonance of a wineglass is due to the deformation of the wineglass by the oscillating finger, and the speed of the finger does not affect the resonant frequency.
  • #1
Goodver
102
1
when you slide your thinger around the rim of glass it produces resonance

the matter which vibrates is a glass, not air, right?

i understand that when ou hit a glass once it produces sound as by hitting you displace mass of glass from its equilibrium.

but why sliding the rim produces sound? if it is due to displacement caused by weight of the finger placed on the rim, then why sliding the wall of the glass does not produce sound?

i have read previous threads, but the topic is still unclear.

thank you
 
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  • #2
Goodver said:
when you slide your thinger around the rim of glass it produces resonance

the matter which vibrates is a glass, not air, right?

Both. If you can hear the sound the air vibrates. The glass vibrates as seen here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iak1VuJyyoM

Goodver said:
but why sliding the rim produces sound?

if it is due to displacement caused by weight of the finger placed on the rim,
It is the friction between the surfaces.

Goodver said:
then why sliding the wall of the glass does not produce sound?
It does. But putting the finger on the wall it might dampen the oscillation more than on the rim.
 
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  • #3
A.T. said:
It is the friction between the surfaces.
An important feature of a lot of these musical "instruments" is actually a kind of stick-slip motion (typically aided by, e.g., a wetted finger) that needs to be "synchronized" with the natural resonance in the system.
 
  • #4
olivermsun said:
An important feature of a lot of these musical "instruments" is actually a kind of stick-slip motion (typically aided by, e.g., a wetted finger) that needs to be "synchronized" with the natural resonance in the system.
Yes, you need a regularly oscillating friction force, which happens when static and sliding friction alternate due to elastic interaction. And then you have to move the finger at the right speed to get the frequency right.
 
  • #5
very useful answer, A.T.

However, if it is a matter of friction, does this imply that rubbing one single spot on the rim will also produce resonance? or it is due to the fact that keeping the finger at one spot will damp produced by this spot oscillations the finger should move?

upd. i guess it is answered in the previous post, did not see it before posting

if oscillations produced by alternating static an moving friction, then as far as i know static friction occur until object is displaced, therefore in a moving finger case, alternation between static and moving friction should not occur as once finger is displaced there is only moving friction afterwards?
 
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  • #6
Goodver said:
if oscillations produced by alternating static an moving friction, then as far as i know static friction occur until object is displaced, therefore in a moving finger case, alternation between static and moving friction should not occur as once finger is displaced there is only moving friction afterwards?
The finger is not a rigid body. The skin at the contact patch deforms.
 
  • #7
Goodver said:
if oscillations produced by alternating static an moving friction, then as far as i know static friction occur until object is displaced, therefore in a moving finger case, alternation between static and moving friction should not occur as once finger is displaced there is only moving friction afterwards?
In studies of bowed instruments, what you find is that the string gets deformed by the moving bow during the "sticking" phase — until a point where the string "slips" and snaps back — and then it sticks once more and the cycle repeats. This is how the string "oscillates" even though the bow is moving in a single direction, and it results in a pattern of string displacement that's actually more of a sawtooth than a smooth wave. Interestingly, the speed of the bow doesn't change the resonant frequency of the system — it only affects the amplitude of the disturbance.

So I imagine something analogous is happening with the wineglass. The wineglass itself is deforming and snapping back rapidly as your finger moves along the rim!
 
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What is the physics behind the sound produced by a wine glass?

The sound produced by a wine glass is a result of the glass vibrating at its natural frequency when struck. This frequency is determined by factors such as the size, shape, and thickness of the glass.

Why does a wine glass produce a high-pitched sound?

The high-pitched sound of a wine glass is due to its small size and thin walls, which cause it to vibrate at a higher frequency than larger and thicker objects.

Can the pitch of the wine glass sound be changed?

Yes, the pitch of the wine glass sound can be changed by altering the glass's physical properties, such as its size, shape, and thickness. Different liquids or objects placed inside the glass can also affect the pitch.

What factors affect the loudness of the wine glass sound?

The loudness of the wine glass sound can be affected by the force with which it is struck, the material and shape of the object used to strike it, and the environment in which it is struck, such as the presence of other sound-absorbing materials.

Why does a wine glass stop making a sound when its rim is wet?

When the rim of a wine glass is wet, it reduces the friction between the glass and the object used to strike it. This results in a decrease in the vibration amplitude and a shorter duration of the sound produced, causing it to stop sooner.

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