Chapter 26, Problem 15A

Why can a tuning fork or bell be set into resonance, while tissue paper cannot?

To determine

To Explain: A tuning fork or bell can be set into resonance while a tissue paper cannot.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

A vibration is the source of all sound waves. A series of compressions and rarefactions travel in the outward direction from the source of sound, as the source of sound vibrates.

Sound waves produced by the vibrations of tuning fork are higher in the frequency and lower in the amplitude. Resonance occurs only when the number of successive impulses is applied to an object which is vibrating with its natural frequency in the rhythm. For example, if you tune a radio set, you are hereby adjusting its natural frequency to match with one of the incoming signals. Hence, in case of a tissue paper, it doesn’t have its natural frequency. So, resonance can’t occur in such case.

Conclusion:

Hence, the tuning fork can be set into resonance but a tissue paper cannot.