2007-03-13 15:17:53 · 4 answers · asked by Taichi 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
If a scream resonates with the natural frequency of the glass for long enough, it's possible that the glass would shatter, but a variety of factors are involved.
First, the type of glass matters. As Louis Bloomfield of How Things Work points out, the glass usually found in windowpanes and cups is relatively soft, so it vibrates poorly and has no strong natural frequencies. If you tap a glass of this sort, all you hear is a dull "thunk" sound. There's nothing with which a high-pitched sound can resonate.
Crystal is better suited because it vibrates well and emits a clear tone when you tap it. Lead oxide is added to the glass, making the resulting crystal stronger than ordinary glass. Crystal wine glasses work well for this experiment because, in addition to being crystal, they are thin and delicate, and the tubular shape enhances the sound frequency.
The real trick to breaking glass with sound is to match the sound's frequency to that of the glass. You might be able to do this with a scream, but it's easier for a singer with perfect pitch to create the right note, especially if that singer's voice is amplified. Each glass will have a slightly different natural frequency due to minute variations in shape and composition. When the high-pitched sound and the glass resonate, it causes the glass to vibrate. If the singer keeps singing the same note at high volume, eventually the glass will vibrate itself into pieces.
2007-03-13 15:19:31 · answer #1 · answered by THEGURU 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The shape and type of glass as a combination are what makes up the natural frequency of a glass object. So, yes, if one produces a frequency high enough so that the natural frequency of the object is reached it will disintegrate.
The shape is key here because that for a given formula of glass produces a given natural frequency . So two glasses of different shape made from same glass formula will take different frequencies to shatter. Thus one might not shatter at a high frequency at all, it might have a rather low frequency to shatter it.
2007-03-13 15:30:23 · answer #2 · answered by James M 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes its possible, but it has to be bad glass, and a really high pitched A
2007-03-13 15:22:32 · answer #3 · answered by dirka 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as it is loud eneough and it is at the natural frequency. If both of thoughs are true then it should be able to shatter glass.
2007-03-13 15:22:31 · answer #4 · answered by Mr. Smith 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋