What Is the Frequency of the Second Tuning Fork?

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SUMMARY

The problem involves two tuning forks, where the first fork has a frequency of 273Hz and the beat frequency is 3.00Hz. The frequency of the second fork can either be 270Hz or 276Hz, determined by the equation f_{beat} = |f_1 - f_2|. The discussion highlights a debate among students regarding the validity of choosing 270Hz as the answer, with one student asserting that there is insufficient information to definitively determine the second fork's frequency.

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Homework Statement



Two tuning forks, first fork has freqency of f = 273Hz. The beat frequency is 3.00Hz. What is the frequency of the second fork?

Homework Equations



[tex]f_{beat} = |f_1 - f_2|[/tex]


The Attempt at a Solution



This was a question on my Physics I exam today, and my prof is known for having 'tricky' conceptual questions on his exams.

This concept is pretty simple, if you have two different frequencies, the Beat frequency is the difference between the two. So for this problem, the second fork could either be 276Hz or 270Hz.

Although that is true, (i don't think) enough information was given to actually be able to know the answer.

A few of the choices from the question were:

A) 270Hz
B-E) a bunch of other frequencies, and none were 276Hz
F) "Not enough information given"

I picked F). Although, my classmates picked 270Hz for the reason that "It was a choice, and 276Hz wasn't".
I don't believe that's a valid way to go about finding the solution, so I think they're wrong.

However, It will be (about a week) before I could get the results/answers for this exam so I'm asking here to see what everyone else thinks?
 
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F: not enough information given. The other frequency may be or may not be 270 Hz, and you cannot decide.

ehild
 
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