Re: [Phys-l] tuning forks

[Bernard Cleyet <bernardcleyet@redshift.com>]

The single tine fork is a rod held at it's center * struck on an end, 
and is a longitudinal vibration, more expensive, and higher Q.  The 
volume to vibrating surface area is larger, and I guess a longitudinal 
vibration for the same alloy has a higher Q than a bending one for 
reason(s) in addition to the preceding.  I suppose, "other things being 
equal", the double tined fork has twice the initial energy for the same 
amplitude.  (HG)

* a saddle with three (or more?) pointed screws

bc, who sadly doesn't have one.

p.s. a rod stroked by a rosin coated cloth (skin / hand?) oscillates.  I 
presume it also is the fork I described above.  They were used to excite 
the air in a Kundt's tube.

Herb Gottlieb wrote:

> 1. If a tuning fork had only one tine it would be called a tuning pick 
> or a tuning skewer rather than a tuning fork.
>
> 2, The tines balance each other by always vibrating in opposite
> directions.  This tends to increase the time that the fork
> vibrates after having been struck.
>
> Herb
>
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, 8 Mar 2006 15:25:10 -0600 "Sykes, Dave" <Dave.Sykes@llcc.edu>
> writes:
>  
>
> > Why do tuning forks have two tines?
> > (A student asked and I didn't have any answer)
> >
> > Dave 
> >    
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