Thread: It is a Question!

Explain the physics of the generation of sound for a musical instrument of your choice.

Originally Posted by Celia

Explain the physics of the generation of sound for a musical instrument of your choice.

Probably the simplest choice would be a stringed instrument.

Briefly: The sound is produced by the vibration of a string which vibrates (more or less) as a standing wave. This vibration disturbs the air molecules near the string, which creates a sound wave.

-Dan

Originally Posted by Celia

Explain the physics of the generation of sound for a musical instrument of your choice.

You blow in here . . . the music goes round 'n round . . .

[Bad joke! .Bad! .Go to your room!]

Originally Posted by topsquark

Probably the simplest choice would be a stringed instrument.

Briefly: The sound is produced by the vibration of a string which vibrates (more or less) as a standing wave. This vibration disturbs the air molecules near the string, which creates a sound wave.

-Dan

The string itself is too small to produce much sound so it has to be connected
to a large object (via a/the bridge?) which moved more air when it vibrates
and so more sound, which in its turn may stimulate a cavity with lots of
resonances to produce even more sound.

RonL