Chapter 26, Problem 37A

The sitar, an Indian musical instrument, has a set of strings that vibrate and produce music, even though they are never plucked by the player. These ’sympathetic strings' are identical to the plucked strings and are mounted below them. What is your explanation?

To determine

As the strings of the sitar vibrate and produce music even when they are not plucked by the player, the reason behind this fact is to be checked.

Answer to Problem 37A

The Resonance between natural frequencies of various strings of the sitar is responsible for produces the music even when they are never plucked.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction: It includes the concept of resonance and thermal energy in the strings of the sitar.

When a string is fixed at two ends then it starts vibrating at its natural frequency due to thermal energy and since all the strings are fixed at common points, they vibrate with identical frequencies resulting in the resonance. This resonance results in the music even when the strings are not plucked.

Conclusion: music is produced in the Indian musical instrument, Sitar, due to resonance between different strings.