Question

Explain a tuning fork (vibrating) is held close to ear. One hears a faint sound. The same vibrating tuning fork is placed on table, such that its handle is in contact with table, one hears a loud sound.

Answer 1

When the tuning fork is held close to ear, then small amount of air is disturbed and hence sound is faint. When the handle of the vibrating tuning fork is held aganist table, it makes the table top to vibrate, with forced vibrations. As the table top has a larger surface area, therefore large volume of air is set into vibrations, thereby producing a loud sound.