1.

If the length of the vibrating string and the frequency of vibration are kept constant, what
effect would increasing the tension have on the number of segments formed? Explain your
answer.

The tension in the string ( a component of it, to be precise) is essentially the restoring force when it is
subjected to a displacement or perturbation. For example, the string's tension is the reason the string of
a guitar vibrates about its mean position when you pluck it, and depending on the structural damping
(material), the string eventually will come back to the mean position. More importantly, if you increase
the tension in the string, you are increasing the stiffness (from the def. of stiffness) of it. From the ideas
of Newton's second law and the spring-mass damper system, a stiffer system will have a higher
frequency as it can produce more force resulting in more acceleration per unit displacement; therefore,
if you increase the tension in the string, the frequency of the vibration increases.

The number of segments formed on the string is inversely proportional to the tension on the string. This
is because the added weight on the strings prevents them from moving freely, therefore limiting the
vibratory motion coming through. However, when the tension is decreased, this enables the string to
move freely, creating more segments.

2. The pitch or frequency of a guitar string also depends on its thickness and length. How is the
pitch of a guitar string related to its length?

The frequency of a guitar string is inversely proportional to the length of the string. If the string has a
greater length, frequency is much lower due to the distance it has to travel. On the other hand, if the
string has a shorter length, the frequency is higher due to the short distance the frequency travels
through. This can be noted by musicians who change the guitar's pitch by pushing their fingers into the
string to make the high pitch note shorter.

How is the pitch of a guitar string related to its thickness?

The thickness of a string is related to its pitch. If two strings are the same length, the thicker string will
have a lower pitch than the thinner string.