Why does the pitch of a mug change when stirred

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I was making some hot chocolate and mixing the mug quite thoroughly, and noticed that the pitch of my spoon knocking against the mug changed according with how fast I was stirring. The pitch was deeper while stirring and moving higher as the liquid slowed and stopped moving in the mug.

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8 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

The pitch of a mug or any other hollow container changes when stirred because the liquid inside the container begins to move, creating waves that travel through the liquid and bounce off the walls of the container. These waves then interact with the air inside the container, causing fluctuations in air pressure.

When the liquid is at rest, the air inside the container is evenly distributed, and the sound waves travel smoothly through it, producing a certain pitch. However, when the liquid is stirred, the waves caused by the movement of the liquid interfere with the sound waves, creating variations in air pressure and altering the pitch.

The pitch of the mug will also depend on the size and shape of the container, the viscosity of the liquid, the speed and direction of stirring, and the type of material the mug is made of. The sound waves produced by stirring will interact differently with different materials, resulting in variations in pitch.

In summary, the pitch of a mug changes when stirred due to the interference of sound waves caused by the movement of the liquid inside the container, and the resulting fluctuations in air pressure.

Anonymous 0 Comments

The pitch of a mug or any other hollow container changes when stirred because the liquid inside the container begins to move, creating waves that travel through the liquid and bounce off the walls of the container. These waves then interact with the air inside the container, causing fluctuations in air pressure.

When the liquid is at rest, the air inside the container is evenly distributed, and the sound waves travel smoothly through it, producing a certain pitch. However, when the liquid is stirred, the waves caused by the movement of the liquid interfere with the sound waves, creating variations in air pressure and altering the pitch.

The pitch of the mug will also depend on the size and shape of the container, the viscosity of the liquid, the speed and direction of stirring, and the type of material the mug is made of. The sound waves produced by stirring will interact differently with different materials, resulting in variations in pitch.

In summary, the pitch of a mug changes when stirred due to the interference of sound waves caused by the movement of the liquid inside the container, and the resulting fluctuations in air pressure.

Anonymous 0 Comments

The pitch of a mug or any other hollow container changes when stirred because the liquid inside the container begins to move, creating waves that travel through the liquid and bounce off the walls of the container. These waves then interact with the air inside the container, causing fluctuations in air pressure.

When the liquid is at rest, the air inside the container is evenly distributed, and the sound waves travel smoothly through it, producing a certain pitch. However, when the liquid is stirred, the waves caused by the movement of the liquid interfere with the sound waves, creating variations in air pressure and altering the pitch.

The pitch of the mug will also depend on the size and shape of the container, the viscosity of the liquid, the speed and direction of stirring, and the type of material the mug is made of. The sound waves produced by stirring will interact differently with different materials, resulting in variations in pitch.

In summary, the pitch of a mug changes when stirred due to the interference of sound waves caused by the movement of the liquid inside the container, and the resulting fluctuations in air pressure.

Anonymous 0 Comments

I notice this when making coffee and hot chocolate, most frothy drinks that have a lot of air to be honest. If you hit the Spoon on the base of the mug (inside) it will thud low pitch and the more you hit the higher the pitch gets. I would guess its a something to do with the bubbles in the liquid dampening the sound, or restricting the vibrations through the ceramic. More taps, less bubbles, higher pitch.

Anonymous 0 Comments

I notice this when making coffee and hot chocolate, most frothy drinks that have a lot of air to be honest. If you hit the Spoon on the base of the mug (inside) it will thud low pitch and the more you hit the higher the pitch gets. I would guess its a something to do with the bubbles in the liquid dampening the sound, or restricting the vibrations through the ceramic. More taps, less bubbles, higher pitch.

Anonymous 0 Comments

I notice this when making coffee and hot chocolate, most frothy drinks that have a lot of air to be honest. If you hit the Spoon on the base of the mug (inside) it will thud low pitch and the more you hit the higher the pitch gets. I would guess its a something to do with the bubbles in the liquid dampening the sound, or restricting the vibrations through the ceramic. More taps, less bubbles, higher pitch.

Anonymous 0 Comments

The pitch can also vary if there’s a handle on the cup depending where you tap on it.

Anonymous 0 Comments

The pitch can also vary if there’s a handle on the cup depending where you tap on it.