Question

Using physics equations, explain why thicker guitar strings make lower notes than thinner guitar strings.

Answer 1

Hi,

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• Thicker guitar strings make lower notes (Low frequency) than thinner guitar strings:

EXPLANATION:

We know that, Frequency of standing waves produced in a guitar string is given by,

Where,

is the length of the strings.

is the tension on the strings.

is the linear mass density of the string, which is given by,

Where, is the mass of the string.

For a thicker string of same length will have higher mass.

Hence, according to equation (2), Linear mass density () of thicker string will be comparatively high.

From equation (1), we have, frequency of vibration of guitar string () is inversely proportional to square root of Linear mass density ().

Since thicker string has a higher Linear mass density (), frequency of vibration of thicker guitar string will be low.

Therefore, Thicker guitar strings make lower notes than thinner guitar strings:

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