Bigger/ amplified vibrations result in bigger/louder sounds. Volume, or loudness, is related to the strength, intensity, pressure, or power of the sound. Long prongs will bend more readily and therefore tend to vibrate at a lower frequency when struck. Shorter prongs produce higher pitch (frequency) sounds than longer prongs. Each fork is stamped with the note it produces (e.g.
The pitch that a particular tuning fork generates depends on the length of its prongs. Changing the number of vibrations per second changes the pitch. A tuning fork emits a pure musical tone (after waiting a moment) as it vibrates after you strike it. Tuning forks allow us to study the basic qualities of sound first hand. In this activity, students experiment with tuning forks to produce various pitches and volumes.
