Answer to Question #163177 in Optics for SAmanta Ariel

Question

Suppose all 6 equal-length strings of an acoustic guitar are played without fingering, that is, without being pressed down on any frets. What quantities are the same for all six strings? choose all correct answers

(a) the fundamental frequency 

(b) the fundamental wavelength 

(c) the fundamental wavelength of the sound emitted 

(d) the speed of the string wave

Answer 1

the speed of the sound emitted

the fundamental wavelength of the string wave

The velocities of the waves on the strings are different due to their different tensions and mass densities. They have different fundamental frequencies, but their fundamental wavelengths are constrained to twice the length of the strings.

Once they leave the string, the vibrations (frequencies) travel through the air at the same speed; therefore their emitted wavelengths are different.