Two tuning forks of 256 Hz and 260 Hz are sounded together. The beat frequency is
- A. 4 Hz
- B. 258 Hz
- C. 516 Hz
- D. 0.5 Hz
Explanation
The beat frequency is simply the difference between the two frequencies, so 260 minus 256 gives 4 beats per second. Their average, 258 Hz, is the pitch actually heard, which is why it appears as a distractor. Beats become too rapid to distinguish once the difference exceeds about 10 Hz.
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