Confusion about frequency and resonance of tuning forks?

In summary, when striking a 100 Hz tuning fork, a 180 Hz tuning fork will vibrate with minimal amplitude and not with increasing amplitude. This is due to the inconsistent addition and subtraction of motion from the air compressions and expansions between the two forks. The same applies when striking a 180 Hz tuning fork.
  • #1
Kratos321
20
0
hello.

ok so i know that if you have two tuning forks of the same natural frequency, one can stimulate the same frequency to another and resonance is achieved.

but what if I have a 100 Hz tuning fork and say maybe a 180 Hz tuning fork. If a strike the 100 Hz one, how will the other one be affected? will it vibrate at all? and if it does, with what frequency? what about if I strike the 180 Hz tuning fork?

thanks in advance.
 
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  • #2
Kratos321 said:
hello.

ok so i know that if you have two tuning forks of the same natural frequency, one can stimulate the same frequency to another and resonance is achieved.

but what if I have a 100 Hz tuning fork and say maybe a 180 Hz tuning fork. If a strike the 100 Hz one, how will the other one be affected? will it vibrate at all? and if it does, with what frequency? what about if I strike the 180 Hz tuning fork?

thanks in advance.

In either case, the other will vibrate, but the minimally and not with increasing amplitude. The reasoning is easy to see if you think of pushing a child on a swing. The child swings up to a peak just in front of you. Just as she was about to go down, you push and increase her speed. That makes her go higher on the far side. She swings back higher on your side, you push, and she goes faster and higher still...

Without much thinking about it, you push with the same frequency as the swing moves. If you were to push with, say 1.8 times that frequency, you would sometimes push when she was going down anyway and add to her motion. Some times you would push as she was on the way up, slowing her. Sometimes you would push when she is not in reach. You would not consistently increase her speed or the amplitude of the motion.

Its the same with the tuning fork. The push (or pull) is carried through the compressions and expansions of the air to the prongs of the other fork. Sometimes they add the to vibration and sometimes they diminish it. The other fork moves, but inconsistently and with a tiny amplitude.
 

1. What is the difference between frequency and resonance?

Frequency refers to the number of cycles an object completes in a given amount of time, typically measured in Hertz (Hz). Resonance, on the other hand, is the tendency of an object to vibrate at a specific frequency when exposed to a source of that same frequency. In other words, frequency is the property of the source, while resonance is the property of the object.

2. How are tuning forks related to frequency and resonance?

Tuning forks are designed to produce a specific frequency when struck, and their shape and material allow them to resonate at that frequency. When a tuning fork is struck, it vibrates at its natural frequency, producing a pure tone that can be used to tune other instruments or test hearing.

3. Can tuning forks have different frequencies and resonant frequencies?

Yes, tuning forks can have different frequencies and resonant frequencies depending on their size, shape, and material. The length and thickness of the tines of a tuning fork determine its frequency, while its material affects its resonant frequency. For example, a steel tuning fork will have a different resonant frequency than a brass tuning fork of the same size and shape.

4. How is resonance used in tuning forks?

Resonance is used in tuning forks to produce a consistent frequency that can be used for tuning and testing. When a tuning fork is struck, it produces a pure tone at its resonant frequency, which can be used to compare and adjust the frequency of other instruments or to test the sensitivity of the human ear.

5. Why is there confusion about frequency and resonance of tuning forks?

There may be confusion about frequency and resonance of tuning forks because they are both related to vibrations and sound, but they are different properties. People may also use the terms interchangeably, which can lead to confusion. Additionally, there are different types of tuning forks with varying frequencies and resonant frequencies, which can add to the confusion.

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