Question

How can a standing wave be formed with the help of a tuning fork and a closed-end tube of appropriate length?

a) By adjusting the temperature of the tuning fork.

b) By varying the amplitude of the tuning fork.

c) By matching the frequency of the tuning fork to the natural frequency of the tube.

d) By changing the material of the tuning fork.

Answer 1

To form a standing wave, the frequency of the tuning fork must be matched to the natural frequency of the tube. This occurs when the reflected sound from the closed end of the tube arrives back at the tuning fork exactly half a cycle later and interferes constructively with the continuing sound produced by the tuning fork, creating a standing wave in the tube.

Step-by-step explanation:

In order to form a standing wave with the help of a tuning fork and a closed-end tube of appropriate length, you need to match the frequency of the tuning fork to the natural frequency of the tube. When the tube is just the right length, the reflected sound from the closed end of the tube arrives back at the tuning fork exactly half a cycle later, and it interferes constructively with the continuing sound produced by the tuning fork, creating a standing wave in the tube.