Question

We have a stringed musical instrument. The string is plucked in the middle first with a force of greater magnitude and then with a force of smaller magnitude. In which case would the instrument produce a louder sound?

Answer 1

Amplitude of Sound wave:

1. The amplitude of a sound wave is the measure of the height of the wave.
2. The amplitude of a sound wave can be defined as the loudness or the amount of maximum displacement of vibrating particles of the medium from their mean position when the sound is produced.
3. It is the distance between crest or trough and the mean position of the wave.
4. Loudness of sound is directly proportional to the amplitude of the sound.
5. If the amplitude of a sound wave is large, then the loudness of sound will be more.
6. If the amplitude is small, then the sound will be smaller.
7. When string is plucked, it produces sound energy.
8. The music we hear is due to string returning to its equilibrium position.
9. This movement of string is called harmonic motion and it will form sinusoidal wave.
10. The vibration of the source sets the amplitude of a wave.
11. If string is plucked with larger force, it produces larger amplitude and hence sound is louder.
12. Similarly if string is plucked with smaller magnitude of force, it produces smaller amplitude and hence sound is lesser.

Hence, when the string is plucked in the middle with greater magnitude of force, the sound produces will be louder.