Why can only certain frequencies only break a glass?
Opera sigers have been known to set crystal glasses in vibration with their powerful voices. In fact, an amplified human voice can shatter the glass, but only at certain fundamental frequencies. Why are only certain fundamental frequenceies able to break the glass?
Gideeup
on February 8th, 2012
It is about the frequency, not the amplitude. Any frequency below 20 000 Hertz is capable of shattering glass provided it’s constant and from an uniform source and is properly directed onto a subject, which is glass in this case.
ReadyToLaunch
on February 8th, 2012
Every material has a certain frequency at which it enters its first (fundamental) mode of vibration. This is the resonance frequency of the material. Frequencies a little higher or lower will not induce complete oscillations and thus do not induce breakage.
Xfactor
on February 8th, 2012
Generally speaking, if the input frequency equals the nature frequency, the glass will have a maximum value of vibration . Therefore, it’s easy to break.
Fractalfallout
on February 8th, 2012
The others are not sympathetic to the glass
TotallyChilled
on February 8th, 2012
Its about both the frequency and the amplitude. You need high volume, and the frequency has to be the right one to make the glass resonate. See the attached link for explanation and a video showing a glass being broken.