Question 4. a tuning fork ‘a’ produces 6 beats/sec with another fork ‘b’ of un-known frequency. on loading ‘b’ with wax 5 beats/sec are produced. if the frequency of ‘a’ is 256 hz, find the frequency of ‘b’. (a) 250 hz (b) 251 hz (c) 257 hz (d) 262 hz

Clever problem.

We know that the beat frequency is the DIFFERENCE between the frequencies of the two tuning forks.  So if Fork-A is 256 Hz and the beat is      6 Hz, then Fork-B has to be EITHER 250 Hz OR 262 Hz.  But which one is it ?

Well, loading Fork-B with wax increases its mass and makes it vibrate SLOWER, and when that happens, the beat drops to 5 Hz.  That means that when Fork-B slowed down, its frequency got CLOSER to the frequency of Fork-A ... their DIFFERENCE dropped from 6 Hz to 5 Hz.

If slowing down Fork-B pushed it CLOSER to the frequency of Fork-A, then its natural frequency must be ABOVE Fork-A.

The natural frequency of Fork-B, after it gets cleaned up and returns to its normal condition, is 262 Hz.  While it was loaded with wax, it was 261 Hz.

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