Resonance Flashcards
Define natural frequency (also called resonant frequency). What determines natural frequency?
It is determined by the properties of an object (mass and elasticity) and is where a system vibrates most naturally.
Define resonance.
A second object is set into vibration when the original object vibrating vibrates at the same natural frequency.
Define free vibration and forced vibration and give an example of each.
Free vibration is when a force is applied once and the object oscillates at its natural frequency. An example of this would be a tuning fork or a guitar string.
Forced vibration is when an object is forced to vibrate by an outside vibrating source. An example of this is our ossicles or a window vibrating from speakers.
How does resonance occur?
A periodically vibrating force is applied to an elastic system
2) the elastic system is forced to vibrate at the frequency of the applied force
3) amplitude of vibration greater when the frequency of the applied force is close to the natural frequency of the elastic system
In forced vibration, why do we see the greatest amount of amplitude at a system’s natural frequency?
most sensitive at that frequency because of the size of our ossicles (mass and elasticity properties of the object)
How does ossicle size explain the different hearing ranges for different mammals?
Larger ossicles create lower frequencies and smaller ossicles create higher frequencies.
