Bell

Definition

A bell is a hollow metallic instrument that produces sound through vibration when struck. The sound generated by a bell can be analyzed in terms of frequency, amplitude, and wave propagation.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The sound produced by a bell is an example of a resonant system where the metal vibrates at its natural frequency.
2. The intensity of the sound from a bell decreases with distance due to the inverse square law.
3. A bell's pitch (frequency) is determined by its size, shape, and material composition.
4. The amplitude of the sound wave from a bell correlates with how hard it is struck, influencing its loudness.
5. Bells often produce complex tones consisting of multiple frequencies, known as harmonics.

Review Questions

• How does the size and shape of a bell affect its pitch?
• What law explains the decrease in sound intensity as you move away from a ringing bell?
• Why do bells produce complex tones rather than single frequencies?

Related terms

Resonance:

The phenomenon where an object vibrates at maximum amplitude at certain frequencies known as its natural frequencies.

Inverse Square Law:

A principle stating that the intensity of a physical quantity (such as sound or light) decreases proportionally to the square of the distance from the source.

Harmonics:

Frequencies that are integer multiples of a fundamental frequency, contributing to the complexity of sounds produced by musical instruments like bells.