Does the presence of a sound box affect the duration of a tuning fork's sound?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the effects of a sound box on the duration of sound produced by a tuning fork. Participants explore the relationship between resonance, energy transfer, and damping in this context.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants question whether the sound box dampens the tuning fork's vibrations or if it enhances energy transfer to the air, and if these concepts are interconnected. There is confusion regarding the implications of resonance and damping on sound duration.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided insights into the nature of energy transfer in resonance versus damping, suggesting that the sound box may facilitate quicker energy transfer to the air. However, there remains uncertainty about the overall impact on sound duration.

Contextual Notes

Participants are grappling with the definitions and implications of resonance and damping, as well as the assumptions underlying their understanding of sound production in this scenario.

mystreet123
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Homework Statement


I was doing a question about resonance of sound box connecting to a tuning fork. It asks why the sound lasts for a shorter time with sound box than if the tuning fork is struck identically without the sound box.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


Is it because the sound box dampens the vibration of tuning fork, or because due to larger contact area of box with air the box transfers vibrational energy at higher rate to air, or these two reasons are actually the same thing? So does it mean that resonator will always dampen the driving oscillator? I'm quite confused between the idea of energy transfer in resonance and damping. Thanks in advance:)
 
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mystreet123 said:

Homework Statement


I was doing a question about resonance of sound box connecting to a tuning fork. It asks why the sound lasts for a shorter time with sound box than if the tuning fork is struck identically without the sound box.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


Is it because the sound box dampens the vibration of tuning fork, or because due to larger contact area of box with air the box transfers vibrational energy at higher rate to air, or these two reasons are actually the same thing? So does it mean that resonator will always dampen the driving oscillator? I'm quite confused between the idea of energy transfer in resonance and damping. Thanks in advance:)
You are right that, to the energy source, there is no distinction between resonance and damping. Either way, it is a transfer of energy from the energy source to whatever is in contact with it. The difference arises after that, being a matter of whether the energy is merely dissipated within the contacting matter (damping) or transferred on.
 
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haruspex said:
You are right that, to the energy source, there is no distinction between resonance and damping. Either way, it is a transfer of energy from the energy source to whatever is in contact with it. The difference arises after that, being a matter of whether the energy is merely dissipated within the contacting matter (damping) or transferred on.
Thanks for replying!
So the reason for shorter sound note is due to resonance? as the energy is transferred on from sound box to air as sound energy more quickly than the tuning fork alone?
 
mystreet123 said:
Thanks for replying!
So the reason for shorter sound note is due to resonance? as the energy is transferred on from sound box to air as sound energy more quickly than the tuning fork alone?
Yes.
 

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