Physics
Two identical guitars are tuned to the same frequency. One is played close to the sound hole and the other close to the bridge (near the end of the strings). Both are played with the same force. The reason for difference in the two sounds is :
- Pitch changes as plucking point affects frequency.
- Loudness changes.
- There is no difference at all.
- Timbre changes due to harmonics.
Answer
Timbre changes due to harmonics.
Reason — Since both guitars are identical and tuned to the same frequency, the pitch of the note remains the same in both cases. The strings are also plucked with the same force, so the difference is not mainly due to loudness.
When a string is plucked at different points, the fundamental frequency does not change, but the relative intensities of the harmonics (overtones) change.
- Plucking near the sound hole produces a softer and richer tone.
- Plucking near the bridge produces a sharper and brighter tone.
Thus, the two sounds differ in their quality or timbre.
Hence, the difference in the two sounds is due to change in timbre caused by different harmonics.
Related Questions
The voice of a woman is of …………… pitch than that of a man.
- lower
- higher
- equal
- cannot say
The quality of a musical sound depends on :
- number of subsidiary notes
- relative amplitudes
- both (1) and (2)
- none of the above
Assertion (A): When we start filling an empty pitcher with water, the pitch of the sound produced goes on decreasing.
Reason (R): The pitch of sound increases with increase in frequency.
- Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
- Both A and R are true and R is not the correct explanation of A.
- assertion is false but reason is true.
- assertion is true but reason is false.
(a) Which of the following quantity determines the loudness of a sound wave?
(i) wavelength,
(ii) frequency, and
(iii) amplitude.
(b) How is loudness related to the quantity mentioned in the above part (a)