Frequency of string and tuning fork

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem involving the frequency of a tuning fork and its relationship to a beat frequency. Participants express confusion regarding the completeness of the problem statement and the necessary information to solve it.

Discussion Character

  • Assumption checking, Problem interpretation, Exploratory

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants question the clarity of the problem statement, noting missing information and the ambiguity of the tuning fork frequency. There is a focus on the interpretation of the beat frequency and its implications for the tuning fork's frequency.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants exploring the implications of the incomplete problem statement. Some have offered insights regarding the nature of the frequencies involved, while others are seeking clarification on specific points related to human hearing capabilities and the characteristics of tuning forks.

Contextual Notes

There is a consensus that the problem is poorly described, with multiple participants highlighting the need for additional information, particularly regarding the tuning fork frequency. The mention of a beat frequency of 3 Hz raises questions about its interpretation in the context of the problem.

somecelxis
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Homework Statement



can someone teach me on this question? i really don't know how to start with it. the ans is 0.38m and 4.1N

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



the working is in the second photo
 

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There seems to be some text missing from the question. The second sentence is incomplete. It reads "When ... and ... ". The reader expects some statement of what happens under those conditions, such as "a beat frequency of <some number> Hz is heard", but the sentence abruptly ends.
 
I didn't see any discontinuity. Maybe the OP corrected the image?

EDIT: NM I see your point. The wording is horrible. The problem is not fully stated no matter how you rearrange the given data. The tuning fork frequency is obviously needed. The 3 Hz is a beat, not the tuning fork frequency. Etc.
 
Last edited:
There seems to be line missing from the question between

... a tuning fork of
?
frequency of 3 Hz ..
 
rude man said:
I didn't see any discontinuity. Maybe the OP corrected the image?

EDIT: NM I see your point. The wording is horrible. The problem is not fully stated no matter how you rearrange the given data. The tuning fork frequency is obviously needed. The 3 Hz is a beat, not the tuning fork frequency. Etc.

why The 3 Hz is a beat, not the tuning fork frequency?
 
somecelxis said:
why The 3 Hz is a beat, not the tuning fork frequency?

Well, for one thing you couldn't hear a 3 Hz tuning fork.
For another, the problem is horribly badly described so I made a guess that the 3 Hz is intended to be a beat frequency and the tuning fork frequency was omitted.
 
rude man said:
Well, for one thing you couldn't hear a 3 Hz tuning fork.
For another, the problem is horribly badly described so I made a guess that the 3 Hz is intended to be a beat frequency and the tuning fork frequency was omitted.

why I couldn't hear 3hz tuning fork?
 
somecelxis said:
why I couldn't hear 3hz tuning fork?

The lowest frequency that humans can hear is about 20Hz.

You can see something vibrating at 3Hz if the amplitude is big enough. But a "tuning fork" that vibrated at 3 Hz would be about 1m long, which is nonsense.
 
A healthy young human ear can hear sounds from 20 Hz to about 15,000 Hz. Most people's range is less than that.
 

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