Preview

Tuning Forks

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
996 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Tuning Forks
MEASURING THE FREQUENCIES OF TUNING FORKS

OBJECT:
The aims of this experiment are measuring the frequency of tuning fork that used in experiment and calculating the percentage error of its frequency.
THEORY:
Sound is a longitudinal wave that travels through all forms of matter. The air molecules vibrate in the same direction as the sound wave moves. The modes of vibrations associated with resonance in objects like strings or air columns have patterns called standing waves. The resonance occurs when the standing wave moves in the opposite direction to the medium’s movements, or when it arises from the combination of reflection and interference such that the reflected waves interfere with the incident waves. Nodes are the places where the medium does not move with the minimum amplitude(zero). Antinodes are the points of maximum vibrations.
A tuning fork is a metal instrument used as an acoustic resonator. Tuning forks are typically constructed of aluminum, steel or an alloy. The fork is a "U" shape with a handle extended from the bottom of the "U". It resembles a fork consisting of two prongs, or tines. When struck by another object, the fork's tines vibrate and produce sound waves as a result. British musician John Shore invented the tuning fork in 1711. The vibrations of the tuning fork are controlled by the elasticity and the inertia of the prongs of the fork. The complex vibrations of the tuning fork involve bending deformation of the prongs. Transverse motions of the prongs cause an up and down motion in the stem of the tuning fork.

Figure 1: Demonstration of tuning forks
When a vibrating tuning fork is placed near the top of the resonance tube, the sound waves will be reflected from the bottom of the tube with a 180-degree phase shift, the incident and reflected waves will constructively or destructively interfere with each other. If the tube is just at the right length, the incident and reflected waves will constructively interfere and have a

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Basic Lab Measurements

    • 465 Words
    • 2 Pages

    This lab experiment displays the accuracy of scientific measuring equipment. This experiment also helps to familiarize the students with these instruments.…

    • 465 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Waves Lab

    • 1296 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The purpose of this laboratory experiment is to “investigate how the vibrating source affects selected characteristics of the sound produced” (Giancoli, 2006).…

    • 1296 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    There are multiple issues that make this experiment flawed. One issue being the quality of the music was not equal; the slight hiss in the…

    • 370 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Physics Mastery Lab

    • 836 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In order for this equipment to assist one in measuring the speed of sound, the speaker and microphone are positioned inside the hollow tube with the speaker stationary at one end. The microphone is able to be moved and set a chosen distance from the speaker, from almost touching to 1 meter. The signal generator is connected to the speaker by a pair of wires. From this pair of wires, another pair of wires connects the signal generator to the frequency meter. A set of wires also run from the signal generator to the oscilloscope. A separate set of wires is connected from the oscilloscope to the microphone inside the tube. The set up of the equipment allows for the output of the signal meter to be read and measured by the frequency meter while being led to the speaker. This input causes the speaker to vibrate, which produces sound waves inside the tube. These sound waves, picked up by the microphone, are then sent to the oscilloscope as a signal. A pattern is displayed on the screen of the oscilloscope. With the signals in phase, the patterned displayed is a straight diagonal line. With…

    • 836 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Over the past twenty years, the front ensemble or pit has become an integral part of modern marching band and drum corps. This section of percussion is crucial to the entire production by a group. The pit creates an added effect when properly incorporated into a band. The purpose of this experiment is to discover the best technique to mic a marimba for the Woodland High School front ensemble. The front ensemble, also known as the pit, has struggled for the past three years to find the best technique for marching competitions, or inside for rehearsals. The study is important to society, especially those who attend or have connections to Woodland High…

    • 3332 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Observing Wave Pulses

    • 1107 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Q4 - When a pulse reaches a fixed end, the wave is reflected or bounced back on the opposite side to which it came down on, so if it travelled down on the left-hand side, it would go back on the right-hand side (starting with a crest would mean returning with a trough).…

    • 1107 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    h. This method starts by placing the nock ½ to ¾ of an inch above center of the string.…

    • 535 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    P6 Giancoli 4th Ed

    • 2929 Words
    • 12 Pages

    Yes; the acceleration is zero when the velocity is at its maximum, that is, at the equilibrium position. Since the force and hence the acceleration always act TOWARDS the equilibrium position (because it's a restorative force), then the force and acceleration must change their sign as the mass crosses the e.p., and therefore must be zero instantaneously at the e.p.…

    • 2929 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    the problem of a vibrating string such as that of a musical instrument was studied by Jean le…

    • 1680 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    4. Strike the tuning fork against a rubber stopper, and hold it just above the opening of the glass tube. Raise or lower the glass tube/fork until the loudest sound is heard.…

    • 743 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Acoustic Guitar Essay

    • 461 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Perhaps the most overlooked mechanics in the physics of guitars is the effect of air cavity on the sound. And whilst the strings, face plates and black plates all have distinctive modes which help uncover their individual tones, so does the air in a guitar. Needless to say, it is from this air cavity that the Helmholtz Resonance is able to thrive- the lowest frequency of air resonance is customarily reliant on the volume of air, and the shape and sound of a guitar’s sound hole. Given this foundation…

    • 461 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    All wind instruments rely on the vibration of air to produce sound. They all have some sort of pipe or tube in which standing air resonates and produces a fundamental frequency. This frequency of the sound produced is dependent on the length of the tube. In some instruments, the length of the tube can be modified to alter the frequency produced. However, this is impractical for other wind instruments such as the pipe organ, so they have multiple pipes for different notes.…

    • 798 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Doppler Effect

    • 1047 Words
    • 5 Pages

    1. What type of wave is a sound wave? A sound wave is a longitudinal waves.…

    • 1047 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Physics of a Guitar

    • 636 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The guitar is the most played instrument in the music world. The oldest surviving guitar is thought to be made around 1776 in Italy by Gaetano Vinaccia. Though, the guitar looks like a simple instrument to construct or play there is a lot of physics behind the creation of it, from the strings to the air inside, the anatomy, and the sound spectrum.…

    • 636 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Sound Wave

    • 564 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Resonance can be observed on a tube with one end open. Musical tones can be…

    • 564 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics