Why are tuning forks shaped like an U?
In: Physics
The main reason for using the fork shape is that, unlike many other types of resonators, it produces a very pure tone, with most of the vibrational energy at the fundamental frequency.
When the tuning fork is struck, little of the energy goes into the overtone modes; they also die out correspondingly faster, leaving a pure sine wave at the fundamental frequency. It is easier to tune other instruments with this pure tone.
A tuning fork has two prongs, these vibrate in opposite directions, ie: both in, then both out then both in. Like two fingers pinching
This is because they are joined at the bottom, where the vibrations carry from one side to the other. (When you strike a tuning fork, you only strike one prong, and the vibrations carry to the other prong).
The vibrations travel from one prong to the other and back to the first. In effect, keeping the energy within the prongs.
If you had a single prong, the energy would dissipate very quickly because the vibrations would move down to the handle and into your hand.
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