silly question

[Ron Torrella]

I think the answer has to do with whether one is receiving high or low
amplitude vibrations and I think where one's ear is aimed in relation to the
origin of a given wave source (the soundboard and/or the various deflection
surfaces -- lids, sides and whatnot) determines which wave makes it into
one's ear.

There are several very interesting webpages on the topic, one of them at The
Physics Classroom
<http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/Class/sound/u11l1a.html>.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-caut@ptg.org [mailto:owner-caut@ptg.org]On Behalf Of Richard
> West
> Sent: Friday, October 12, 2001 12:26 PM
> To: College & University Technicians
> Subject: silly question
>
>
> Hello All,
>
> It's Friday for whatever that's worth, but I thought it might be a good
> day to ask a silly question that's been rattling around my head for
> years (along with that loose screw that's up there, too)
>
> Why is it that head position makes such a difference when you're
> tuning.  Sometimes if I have trouble picking out a beat, I just move my
> head, and the sound becomes clearer.  Also, I find I hear a lot better
> standing up.  When I use the machine, it makes a difference where I put
> the mike.  The machine has trouble reading some notes but if I move it,
> the reading is clearer.  What is it about sound waves that creates this
> effect?  Are there nodes in the air in addition to nodes on the string?
> There's probably an obvious answer, but I've never looked it up or heard
> it.  I'll leave it to more educated personages than I to give me the
> answer.  Thanks in advance.
>
> Richard West
> University of Nebraska


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