just a question out of curiosity...
Why is it that when you stretch a rubber band between your thumbs the same length both sides of the rubber band make two different sounds? Is it because the sound waves are at different velocities or frequencies?
Great question! The reason you hear different sounds when you stretch a rubber band between your thumbs is indeed related to the properties of sound waves.
When you pluck a rubber band, it vibrates and produces sound waves. These sound waves travel through the air to your ears, where you perceive them as sound.
The pitch, or frequency, of a sound wave determines the perceived highness or lowness of a sound. Higher frequencies correspond to higher-pitched sounds, and lower frequencies correspond to lower-pitched sounds.
When you stretch the rubber band tightly, it increases the tension in the band. This causes the rubber band to vibrate at a higher frequency, producing a higher-pitched sound. The higher tension increases the speed at which the sound waves travel through the rubber band, resulting in a higher velocity.
Conversely, when you stretch the rubber band less tightly, it decreases the tension. This causes the rubber band to vibrate at a lower frequency, producing a lower-pitched sound. The lower tension reduces the speed at which the sound waves travel through the rubber band, resulting in a lower velocity.
So, to summarize, the different sounds produced when you stretch a rubber band between your thumbs are due to the different frequencies and velocities of the sound waves generated by the rubber band vibrations.