PHYSICS 109 Chapter Notes - Chapter 10: Tuning Fork, Restoring Force, Sound Energy
Document Summary
The prongs of a tuning fork vibrating towards and away from each other releases sound waves of a certain frequency (standard a pitch is 440 hz) The air new the fork is pushed in the corresponding direction of the fork"s vibrations causing variations in air pressure. The pressure variations spread out like a ripple created by a rock thrown in calm water. The pressure variations reach your ear, move your eardrum and your eardrum converts the sound energy into nerve pulses to interpret the sound. The brain doesn"t register each oscillation individually -- combines them in an interesting fashion. Vibrations and oscillations are not unique to sound -- occur in nature (pendulum, swing of a tree branch) Position of equilibrium - a point where the object remains static if left alone/ the point that an oscillating object returns to after oscillation. Restoring force - force that pulls an oscillating object back to its equilibrium position.
