What is meant by the natural frequency of vibrations of a body ? Name one factor on which it depends.
Free or natural vibration: In free vibration the body at first is given an initial displacement and the force is withdrawn. The body starts vibrating and continues the motion of its own accord. No external force acts on the body further to keep it in motion. The frequency of free vibration is known as free or natural frequency.
Whenever a body is set into vibrations, then in absence of any externally impressed force upon it, the body will go on vibrating with a characteristic frequency of its own. The frequency of such vibrations depends upon the mass, shape and the elastic properties of the body. It never depends on any external factors. This kind of vibrations continue indefinitely with the same amplitude. You can say that the body executes Simple Harmonic Motion (S.H.M.) in Free Vibration.
There are several factors that affect the natural frequency of the body to a great extent.
Some of the most prominent ones include temperature and other conditions in surroundings.
Change in velocity and wavelength also reflects a great fluctuation in the natural frequency of the body.