Bell
Definition
A bell is a hollow metallic instrument that produces sound through vibration when struck. The sound generated by a bell can be analyzed in terms of frequency, amplitude, and wave propagation.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
- The sound produced by a bell is an example of a resonant system where the metal vibrates at its natural frequency.
- The intensity of the sound from a bell decreases with distance due to the inverse square law.
- A bell's pitch (frequency) is determined by its size, shape, and material composition.
- The amplitude of the sound wave from a bell correlates with how hard it is struck, influencing its loudness.
- Bells often produce complex tones consisting of multiple frequencies, known as harmonics.
Review Questions
- How does the size and shape of a bell affect its pitch?
- What law explains the decrease in sound intensity as you move away from a ringing bell?
- Why do bells produce complex tones rather than single frequencies?
"Bell" appears in:
Subjects (2)
Related terms
Resonance: The phenomenon where an object vibrates at maximum amplitude at certain frequencies known as its natural frequencies.
Inverse Square Law: A principle stating that the intensity of a physical quantity (such as sound or light) decreases proportionally to the square of the distance from the source.
Harmonics: Frequencies that are integer multiples of a fundamental frequency, contributing to the complexity of sounds produced by musical instruments like bells.
