Herbert - I think that a string has many resonant narrow frequencies, all musically related to each other. A cymbal has many narrow resonant frequencies, all *not* musically related to each other. So our ears do not add them up into one musical note. But the cymbal does resonate.
Wayne > Begin forwarded message: > > > From: Herbert Ward <wa...@physics.utexas.edu > <mailto:wa...@physics.utexas.edu>> > Subject: [LUTE] Re: Single versus triple roses > > As an exercise, I pose this question. A cymbal has no definite > pitch, but it rings for a long time. So it does not follow the > rules below. Why? > > > On Sat, 29 Nov 2014, Herbert Ward wrote: > >>> But I invite all you proper physicists out there to explain why! >> >> I have a PhD in experimental physics. >> >> The term "resonant frequency" is a bit complicated. >> >> A string has a "resonant frequency" (its pitch). >> But a string's resonant frequency is obviously different from >> a lute's "resonant frequency". For when I tap my lute, it does not >> ring at a specific pitch like (F# or Bb or 413.7 Hz). >> >> A lute's resonant frequency is very broad (I guess several octaves). >> A string's resonant frequency is very narrow (I guess 0.5 Hz). >> >> As the math works out: >> lute haves a broad resonant frequency = short ring time >> string haves a narrow resonant frequency = long ring time >> >> The physical difference is how much "damping" there here. >> You can google "damped harmonic oscillater" for more info. >> >> Many factors apply to both lutes and strings: >> 1. lighter = higher pitch >> 2. stiffer = higher pitch >> 3. heavier = lower pitch >> 4. looser = lower pitch >> >> As to why a smaller rosette makes a lower pitch, I'm not sure. It >> might be simply because the is more mass in the soundboard (#3 above). >> Or it might have be related to how wooodwind sound holes work. Or maybe >> both. An experiment to resolve the question would, I'm afraid, involve >> the destruction/degradation of the soundboard on a good lute. >> >> >> >> To get on or off this list see list information at >> http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html >> <http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html> >> > > --
