Beats-Learning Object
- 2. What Are Beats? Variance in amplitude as it increases and decreases. Occurs when we listen to two similar waves. When frequencies of two waves are significantly different, we hear to distinct tones.
- 3. Problem 1 a)You pluck two steel strings at once. The first string emits 673 Hz and the second string emits 678 Hz. What sound wave(s) do you hear? b)You pluck two steel strings that emit 432 Hz and 490 Hz. What sound wave(s) do you hear?
- 4. Solution 1 a) Since the two frequencies are very close to each other, you will hear a single tone with a mean frequency of the two waves; 675 Hz. b) The frequency difference of the two waves are clearly large. Therefore, you will hear two distinct tones that are 432 Hz and 490 Hz,
- 5. Visualizing Beats Two waves (blue and red) combine to form the resultant wave (green). We can utilize the principle of superposition to determine the resultant wave; add the two waves.
- 6. Problem 2 Wave 1 Wave 2 A m p l i t u d e Time Determine the resulting wave.
- 7. Solution 2 Resultant Wave Add the amplitudes of two waves to obtain the resultant wave.
- 8. References Physics 101 UBC Edition