Resonance in Sound Waves

Have you ever seen a video of a trained singer breaking a glass with only their voice? What about a video of a large bridge swaying wildly in the wind? This must be due to some clever editing, right? Not quite! These effects are indeed possible due to the effects of a phenomenon called resonance. In nature, everything tends to vibrate, some objects more than others. If an external force increases the energy of these vibrations, we say that it has achieved resonance. In this article, we will discuss resonance in sound waves and learn more about how the talented singer can break a glass with only their voice.

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Team Resonance in Sound Waves Teachers

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    Definition of Resonance

    When a guitar string is plucked, it vibrates with its natural frequency. This vibration causes a vibration in the surrounding air molecules which we perceive as sound.

    The natural frequency is the frequency with which a system will oscillate without an external driving or damping force being applied.

    Let's imagine that we have strings of a variety of different lengths. We can perform an experiment to see which of our new strings, when plucked, causes our original string to vibrate the most in response. As you may have guessed, the new string which has the same length as the original is going to be the string that elicits the strongest response in the original string. Specifically, the amplitude of the oscillations of the string that are produced in response to the waves produced by the plucked string is largest when the length of the plucked string is the same as the original string. This effect is called resonance and is the same effect that allows well-trained singers to break glass with their voices.

    Resonance is the effect produced when incoming/driving waves or oscillations amplify the oscillations of an oscillating system when their frequency matches one of the natural frequencies of the oscillating system.

    Definition of Resonance in Sound Waves

    For sound waves, resonance occurs when incoming sound waves acting on an oscillating system amplify the oscillations when the frequency of the incoming sound waves is close to or the same as the natural frequency of the oscillating frequency. You can think of this as the definition of resonance in sound waves.

    In the case of the singer that can break a wine glass with their voice, the frequency of sound waves from their voice will match the natural frequency with which the glass tends to vibrate. You'll notice that when you strike a wine glass with a solid object it will ring at a particular pitch. The particular pitch that you hear corresponds to a particular frequency at which the glass is oscillating. The vibration of the glass increases in amplitude and if this new amplitude is great enough, the glass shatters. The frequency that is responsible for this effect is called the resonant frequency. A similar effect can be achieved if the singer is replaced by a tuning fork of the correct resonant frequency.

    Think of this natural frequency as the frequency that will arise when the glass is tapped lightly with a metal spoon. A standing wave is set up on the glass and you will always notice the same sound being produced.

    Causes of Resonance in Sound Waves

    We have discussed the concept of resonance but to understand it better we must discuss exactly how resonance occurs. Resonance is caused by the vibrations of standing waves. We will discuss how these standing waves can be formed on strings under tension and in hollow pipes.

    Standing Waves on Strings

    Standing waves, also known as stationary waves, are the waves generated when two waves of equal amplitude and frequency moving in opposite directions interfere to form a pattern. Waves on a guitar string are examples of standing waves. When plucked, a guitar string vibrates and creates a wave pulse that travels along the string to a fixed end of the guitar. The wave then reflects and travels back along the string. If the string is plucked a second time a second wave pulse is generated which will overlap and interfere with the reflected wave. This interference can produce a pattern which is the standing wave. Imagine the image below to be that of standing waves on a guitar string.

    Resonance in sound waves Allowed and forbidden standing waves StudySmarterStanding waves that can and cannot occur, Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0

    The string cannot vibrate at the fixed ends and these are referred to as nodes. Nodes are areas of zero amplitude. Areas of maximum vibration are called antinodes. Note that standing waves like the ones on the right-hand side of the diagram cannot occur because the guitar string cannot vibrate outside the fixed ends of the guitar.

    Standing Waves in Pipes

    We can use our imagination to think of the diagram above as a closed pipe. That is, as a hollow pipe that is sealed at both ends. The wave generated is now a sound wave produced by a speaker. Instead of a string, the vibration is produced in air molecules. Again, air molecules at the closed ends of the pipe cannot vibrate and so the ends form nodes. In between successive nodes are the positions of maximum amplitude, which are antinodes. If the pipe were, instead, open at both ends, the air molecules at the ends will vibrate with maximum amplitude, i.e. antinodes would form as shown in the figure below.

    Resonance in sound waves Standing wave in open pipe StudySmarterStanding sound wave in a hollow pipe that is open at both ends, StudySmarter Originals

    Examples of Resonance in Sound Waves

    Guitar Strings

    We will consider the cases of sound waves created by waves on a string and sound waves traveling in a hollow pipe. On guitars, strings of different lengths and under different tensions are plucked to create musical notes of different pitches in the strings. These vibrations in the strings cause sound waves in the air surrounding them, which we perceive as music. The frequencies corresponding to different notes are created by resonance. The figure below is an illustration of a guitar string vibrating with a resonant frequency after being plucked.

    Resonance in sound waves Guitar string vibrating with resonant frequency StudySmarterA guitar string vibrating with a resonant frequency after being plucked, - StudySmarter Originals

    Closed Pipes

    Pipe organs send compressed air into long, hollow pipes. The air column vibrates when air is pumped into it. Standing waves are set up in the pipe when the driving frequency of the keyboard note matches one of the standing wave frequencies in the pipe. These frequencies are hence the resonant frequencies of the pipe. The pipe itself may be closed at both ends, open at one end and closed at the other, or open at both ends. The type of pipe will determine the frequency that will be produced. The frequency with which the air column vibrates will then determine the note of the sound wave heard. The figure below is an example of a sound wave of a resonant frequency in a pipe closed at both ends.

    Resonance in sound waves Sound waves vibrating at a resonant frequency in a closed pipe StudySmarterSound waves vibrating at a resonant frequency in a closed pipe, StudySmarter Originals

    The Frequency of Resonance in Sound Waves

    Resonant Frequencies of a Vibrating String

    A guitar string is an example of a vibrating string that is fixed at both ends. When the string is plucked, there are certain specific frequencies with which it can vibrate. A driving frequency is used to achieve these frequencies and, since these vibrations are amplified, this is an example of resonance according to the definition of resonance in sound waves. The standing waves formed have resonant frequencies that depend on the mass of the string \(m\), its length \(L\), and the tension in the string \(T\),

    $$f_n=\frac{nv}{2L}=\frac{n\sqrt{T/\mu}}{2L}$$

    since

    $$v=\frac{T}{\mu}$$

    where \(f_n\) denotes the frequency of the \(n^{\mathrm{th}}\) resonant frequency, \(v\) is the speed of the wave on the string and \(\mu\) is the mass per unit length of the string. The figure below illustrates the first three resonant frequencies/harmonics for a vibrating string of length \(L\), that is, \(n=1\), \(n=2\) and \(n=3\).

    Resonance in sound waves Standing waves on a string StudySmarter

    The first three resonant frequencies/harmonics for standing waves on a vibrating string of length \(L\), StudySmarter Originals

    The lowest resonant frequency \((n=1)\) is called the fundamental frequency and all frequencies higher than this are referred to as overtones.

    Q. Calculate the 3rd resonant frequency for a guitar string of length, \(L=0.80\;\mathrm m\) mass per unit length \(\mu=1.0\times10^{-2}\;\mathrm{kg}\;\mathrm m^{-1}\) under a tension \(T=80\;\mathrm{N}\).

    A. To solve this problem we can use the equation for the resonant frequencies on a string as follows:

    $$f_n=\frac{n\sqrt{T/\mu}}{2L}\;$$

    $$=\frac{3\sqrt{(80\;\mathrm{N})/(1.0\times10^{-2}\;\mathrm{kg}\;\mathrm m^{-1})}}{2\times0.80\;\mathrm m}$$

    $$=170\;\mathrm{Hz}$$

    where \(n=3\) for the \(3^\mathrm{rd}\) resonant frequency. This means that the third-lowest possible frequency with which a standing wave can form on this guitar string is \(170\;\mathrm{Hz}\).

    Resonant Frequencies of a Closed Pipe

    If a standing wave pattern is set up using sound waves in a hollow closed pipe, we can find the resonant frequencies just as we did for the waves on a string. A pipe organ uses this phenomenon to create sound waves of different notes. A driving frequency, created using the organ’s keyboard, matches one of the natural standing wave frequencies in the pipe and the resulting sound wave is amplified, which gives the pipe organ a clear, loud sound. Pipe organs have many different pipes of different lengths to create the resonance of different notes.

    The resonant frequencies \(f_n\) of a closed pipe can be calculated as follows

    $$f_n=\frac{nv}{4L}$$

    for the \(n^{th}\) resonant frequency, where the speed of sound in the pipe is \(v\), and \(L\) is the length of the pipe. The figure below illustrates the first three resonant frequencies/harmonics for a vibrating string, that is, \(n=1\), \(n=3\) and \(n=3\).

    Resonance in sound waves Standing waves in a closed pipe StudySmarterThe first three resonant frequencies/harmonics forstanding waves in a closed pipe of length \(L\), StudySmarter Originals

    Resonance in Sound Waves - Key takeaways

    • Resonance is the effect produced when incoming/driving waves amplify the waves of an oscillating system when their frequency matches one of the natural frequencies of the oscillating system.

    • The natural frequency is the frequency with which a system will oscillate without an external force being applied.

    • The vibrations in plucked guitar strings cause sound waves in the surrounding air.

    • The frequencies of sound waves produced by guitar strings are the resonant frequencies of the string.

    • The \(n^{th}\) resonant frequencies \(f_n\) of a wave on a guitar string of length \(L\), under tension \(T\) and having mass per unit length \(\mu\) is $$f_n=\frac{n\sqrt{T/\mu}}{2L}.$$

    • In pipe organs, sound waves are created in hollow pipes.

    • The frequencies of sound waves produced by pipe organs are the resonant frequencies of the pipe.

    • The \(n^{th}\) resonant frequencies \(f_n\) of a wave in an organ pipe of length \(L\), having speed \(v\) is $$f_n=\frac{nv}{4L}.$$

    • The lowest frequency for resonance \((n=1)\) is called the fundamental frequency.

    • All frequencies higher than the fundamental frequency are called overtones.

    Frequently Asked Questions about Resonance in Sound Waves

    What is resonance in sound waves? 

    For sound waves, resonance occurs when incoming sound waves acting on a system of sound waves amplify the sound waves of the system if their frequency (driving frequency) matches one of the system’s natural frequencies. 

    How does resonance affect sound waves? 

    Resonance amplifies sound waves.

    What are the conditions for resonance? 

    Incoming waves must have a frequency that matches the natural frequency of the vibrating system for resonance to occur.

    What is an example of sound resonance? 

    The sound that is amplified in the hollow pipes of a pipe organ is an example of sound resonance.

    When does resonance occur? 

    Resonance occurs when incoming waves have a frequency that matches the natural frequency of the vibrating system.

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    Test your knowledge with multiple choice flashcards

    The 1st resonant frequency of a sound wave in a closed pipe can be found if the length of the pipe and speed of the sound wave are known.

    The lowest frequency for resonance is called the ... frequency

    All frequencies higher than the fundamental frequency are called overtones.

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