"why is a vibrating guitar string not as loud when it is mounted to a workbench as it is when it is mounted to a guitar?"
2007-04-04 07:28:59 · 3 answers · asked by JJ99 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
There's kinetic energy in the vibration of the string. You want most of that energy transferred to a compression wave (sound) in the air. Tie the string to a workbench, and the energy is absorbed by the workbench, with little reaching the air. Tie it to a flat, thin piece of flexible wood, and the motion of the string is transferred to the wood, and the wood efficiently transfers it to the surrounding air. This is probably what you were supposed to figure out by doing your homework.
2007-04-04 08:31:22 · answer #1 · answered by Frank N 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is called resonance. The wavelength of the vibrating strings is about the same size as the hollow acoustic guitar. This causes compressions of air in the guitar which causes the guitar to vibrate and amplify the sounds.
2007-04-04 07:42:51 · answer #2 · answered by Scott H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because the string without the guitar lets sound dissipate into the air. On a guitar the noise is not escaping behind the you, but is being bounced back in front of you... like an echo. So technically, the string is not really making more noise, you just hear more in front where the hole is letting the sound echo out. neat, huh?
2007-04-04 07:45:47 · answer #3 · answered by David D 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋