A vibrating string produces the highest pitch if it's;
A) loose and long
B) loose and short
C) tight and long
D) tight and short
To determine the correct answer, we need to understand the factors that affect the pitch produced by a vibrating string. The pitch of a vibrating string is determined by its frequency - the number of complete vibrations or cycles it makes per second.
Now, let's analyze the options:
A) Loose and long: When a string is loose and long, it is less tense and has a lower tension. This results in slower vibrations and a lower frequency, thus producing a lower pitch. So, option A is incorrect.
B) Loose and short: Similarly, when a string is loose and short, it has less tension and a lower frequency. Therefore, the pitch produced will be lower. So, option B is also incorrect.
C) Tight and long: When a string is tight and long, it has higher tension due to being stretched tightly. This higher tension increases the speed of vibrations and results in a higher frequency, which produces a higher pitch. Therefore, option C is correct.
D) Tight and short: When a string is tight and short, it has higher tension due to being stretched tightly. However, the short length limits the number of vibrations it can make in a given time, resulting in a lower frequency and lower pitch. So, option D is incorrect.
In conclusion, the correct answer is option C) tight and long.