What is an object’s natural resonant frequency and why does singing/playing it make the object break?

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I’ve heard this term a lot as a musician. I’m aware that by finding an objects resonant frequency and playing that frequency it will break or smash, for example when singers break wine glasses with their voice, or the whole Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation thing. What is an object’s natural resonant frequency, how is it determined, and what happens to an object when you play it that makes things smash or break? Thanks!!

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Anonymous 0 Comments

FYI: all responses speak of _the_ resonance frequency, but this is a misnomer. A typical everyday object can easily have many resonance frequencies; or none at all!

For example, a string on an instrument can vibrate not with just one frequency f, but also all its multiples, forming what is called “nodes”. You can try yourself with a slightly heavy cord: hold both ends and try to make it swing circularly. Now let it stop and start with a much faster one, nodes might form. An example picture might help: https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/313751.image0.jpg

Or instead you can use a string of rubber and have it swing up-down with different numbers of nodes. Or hold a slinky on one end and swirl it around…

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