Why do tuning forks stay at one pitch?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: Prongs vibrate at fixed rate
Temperature locks vibration speed — Wrong. While temperature can slightly affect pitch, tuning forks maintain their frequency because of their physical dimensions, not temperature locking.
Fork shape forces one frequency — Wrong. Shape matters, but more specifically, the prong length and mass determine the exact vibration frequency.
Prongs vibrate at fixed rate ✓ — Correct! Tuning forks are precisely made so their two prongs vibrate at a specific frequency when struck. The prong length, width, thickness, and metal density determine this frequency. A440 Hz forks always vibrate 440 times per second, producing the A note used for tuning.