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How do temperature changes affect a tuning fork's frequency?

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This experiment was conducted to find out how the resonant frequency generated by a tuning fork will change at different temperatures.

Hypothesis

The frequency of sound from a tuning fork will decrease as the temperature increases.

Overview

Tuning Fork

A tuning fork consists of 2 tines shaped like a ‘U’ and a handle in the middle. When the tines are hit with an object or knocked on the table, they will vibrate. The vibration of the tines will cause the surrounding air to compress and expand creating sound.

The sound generated by the tuning fork is of a specific frequency or tone. This is why the tuning fork is very useful in tuning musical instruments.

The frequency generated by the tuning fork will depend on the material it is made of and also its dimensions.

F = R x √ (E x ρ) / (π x l ²)

F = frequency of the fork, l = length of the tines, E = fork materials Young’s modulus

ρ = density of the material, R= radius of the prongs

Scientific Terms

Compress, expand, frequency, tone, Young's modulus, density, radius

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