Question

. when guitar strings a and b are plucked at the same time, a beat frequency of 4 hz is heard. if string a is tightened, the beat frequency decreases to 3 hz. which of the two strings had the lower frequency initially?

Answer 1

String A had the lower frequency initially. Tightening string A, which increases its frequency, reduced the beat frequency, indicating that its frequency was lower to begin with and it became closer to that of string B.

Step-by-step explanation:

The phenomenon of beats occurs when two sound waves of nearly similar frequencies interfere with each other.

The beat frequency is the absolute difference between the two frequencies.

When strings A and B are plucked together and produce a beat frequency of 4 Hz, it means that one string is vibrating at a frequency 4 Hz higher or lower than the other.

If tightening string A reduces the beat frequency to 3 Hz, this indicates that string A was initially at a lower frequency. This is because tightening a string increases its frequency, and by doing this, the frequency of string A got closer to that of string B, thus reducing the beat frequency.