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In a demonstration, a vibrating tuning fork causes a nearby second tuning fork to begin to vibrate with the same frequency. Which wave phenomenon is illustrated by this demonstration?

User Jdweng
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Final answer:

The concept demonstrated when a vibrating tuning fork causes a nearby tuning fork to vibrate is called resonance, which is a common phenomenon in physics related to waves and sound.

Step-by-step explanation:

The wave phenomenon illustrated by a vibrating tuning fork causing a nearby second tuning fork to begin vibrating at the same frequency is known as resonance. Resonance occurs when one object vibrating at the same natural frequency as a second object forces that second object into vibrational motion. This is a real-world connection that can be seen in tuning forks. When one tuning fork is struck and another identical one is placed nearby, the sound waves from the vibrating fork can be absorbed by the second fork, causing it to vibrate at the same frequency. When weights are attached to one of the forks or if the forks are different, they no longer share the same natural frequency, and resonance does not occur. This concept is highly relevant to understanding phenomena in various musical instruments and acoustic systems. For example, holding a tuning fork near the end of a closed tube can demonstrate how resonance causes certain frequencies to be amplified within the tube, a principle important for the design of wind instruments.