answersLogoWhite

0

Tuning Forks

Tuning forks are specialized two prong forks. They are made in different lengths and sizes to create specific notes when struck. They are used to help tune musical instruments.

500 Questions

Do piano tuners listen to the beat frequency between their tuning fork and the wire they are tuning?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

Yes, they do. When the tuning fork (or the more modern electronic tone generator) is providing a reference tone, the tuner will strike a key and listen for a beat frequency between the reference and the piano string. With wrench in hand, the person tuning the instrument will take a bit of tension off the string, and will then increase the tension to bring the piano string "up" and equal to the frequency of the reference. The beat frequency will disappear as the tones become equal in frequency. It is the practice of the individuals tuning a piano to always bring a string of the instrument "up" to the frequency of the reference rather than "detuning" the string to lower the pitch and match it with the reference. With a bit of practice and patience ('cause you can always detune the string and "start over" to get it spot on), you can generally do a pretty good job of tuning the piano, though the professionals have been doing it for many years. These experienced folks have a good "ear" for the beat frequencies. The electronic references are modestly priced now, thanks to 21st century electronics. Note that there are cool electronic tuning units that will "listen" to the beat frequency and indicate to you when it disappears and a match has occurred. Our ears are generally fairly sensitive to the difference in the frequencies of two tones. When the tones "beat" on one another because they are being generated simultaneously, the difference between them is usually fairly obvious. Oh, and you are listening to the interference frequency between the two tones, which is what the beat frequency is. Certainly it's a bit of a challenge to accurately tune a piano, but many folks are fairly capable of doing it and only need a modicum of practice. Leave that big Steinway or Yamaha to the experts, but if you've got an old upright, have a go!

Is tuning fork can be used for percussion?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

No. However, although not all percussion instruments are considered "tuned percussion instruments" they all have pitch. The one example of an instrument that cannot be tuned would be cymbals. However, in in the case of cymbals, manufacturers can chisel away material on the cymbal and alter the shape to produce a specific series of overtones. Even so, the average percussionist cannot easily tune a cymbal to a specific note as he may do to a snare drum with a drum key.

When glass cups are filled with water and tapped with a fork what causes the sound?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

Any glass of appropriate manufacture (wine glasses are a favorite) will make sound when struck, because the walls of the glass vibrate. Glasses are often filled with water, whether a small amount or nearly to the top, because it limits the part of the glass walls that vibrates, raising the pitch the more water is present. This is the concept behind the Glass Harmonica (normally implemented with multiple water glasses and tuned with water.) Ben Franklyn invented the Glass Armonica by mounting nested, tuned bowls of glass on a spindle so they rotated. If the glass is clean, then wet fingers rubbed around the rim will cause them to make a very tonal pitch. The rotation in the Armonica reduced the need for the player to rub around the rim, allowing it to be used for chordal music appropriate to Franklyn's time.

Why is sound amplified when a vibrating tuning fork is held in a contact with a sounding board?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

Because the vibrations resonate through solid objects.

Who was America's tuning fork?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

The tuning fork allows for a standard of pitch for musicians that is very reliable and accurate. Before metal tuning forks, pitch was established using wooden pitch pipes. These pitch pipes were not particularly accurate or reliable.

Why shouldn't you hit a tuning fork on a bench?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

it would dent it. :)

What is the use of tuning fork as a laboratory apparatus?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

to asses persons hearing ability specially air conduction versus bone conduction

A tuning fork used to be the standard method for checking the musical pitch of instruments. When struck it would vibrate at a definite frequency, which could be heard, and Musical Instruments could then be adjusted to match. Nowadays that is more usually done by electronic oscillators.

What is created when two Tuning forks of the same frequency are struck at the same time?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

Not much, really. You strike yours where you are and I'll strike mine 3,000 miles away at precisely the same moment. Suddenly...nothing happens.

I think you're really asking about resonance, which can, in fact, be very powerful. Sound waves reinforcing each other. Works for light, as well. It's called a "laser."

Beats can be heard when two tuning forks?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

Almost the same frequency and are sounded together.

How much does a tuning fork vibrate a minute?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

depends on fork

How many times per second does a tuning fork vibrate if it is producing a sound wave in helium gas with a frequency of 384Hz?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

The frequency of a wave motion is the number of waves passing through a fixed position each second. Thus, the sound wave emitted from the tuning fork has a frequency of 384 Hz means that the fork is vibrating 384 times per second.

What are the uses of a pitch fork?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

It is used as an agricultural implement

How can a tuning fork cause a guitar string to vibrate?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

Pluck it. Strum it. Flick it. Damn, anything really lol.

But if you mean vibrate so it makes a loud 'vvvvvvvvvvvvvvtttttttttt' noise, pick the string (or pluck it, or whatever) and then gently put your fingernail or a pick on it - GENTLY. the string will make a loud noise, sometimes a little bit like a 'twang'.

x

What type of tuning fork would vibrate faster?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

The frequency of vibration depends on several factors with length being an important one. Stiffness and shape are some others.

What happens when a tuning fork that is still vibrating touches a wooden desk?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

the vibrations made by the tuning fork cause the paper to preduce a humming sound.

Why dont you touch your teeth with a vibrating tuning fork?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

The vibration may very well break your teeth.

What was produced when the tuning fork struck the edge of the table?

User Avatar

Asked by Wiki User

the energy of the lighting from the sun....