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From: "arjay" <arjaykwinvalid@sympatico.ca>
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Subject: Re: A question for those interested in physics...
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"Timberwoof" wrote ...
>  Elizabeth <booREMOVE@greyREMOVErock.org> wrote:
>
> > It was sort of a joke question. I haven't studied physics for a while,
> > but IIRC, it doesn't make a sound. I guess we're talking about a closed
> > system, so the energy required to ring the bell must come from within,
> > and barring no other forces involved, the bell would vibrate
> > indefinitely. Now I wonder if there's a small amount of heat involved in
> > the transfer of energy. Anybody know? I haven't thought about this stuff
> > in ages!
>
> The bell rings because someone hit it with something. Its ringing sets
> up pressure waves in the air, and we can hear those.
>
> In a vacuum, a bell might vibrate for longer than in an atmosphere
> because there's no atmosphere to carry energy away from it. However,
> internal friction of the moving metal will eventually damp the
> vibrations (and heat up the bell).
>
> Imagine this scenario: Rigidly attach a bell to the inside of a steel
> container. Evacuate the air from the container. Then ring the bell.
> (Okay, you can have an electromagnet with a hammer in there.) Assuming
> that you and the container are in an atmosphere, and the container isn't
> unreasonably thick, you might be able to hear the bell ringing even
> though it's in a vacuum.

Nope.
You'll hear the steel container resonating to the vibrations of the bell.
(You /did/ say it was a rigid attachment?)

--
arjay
Denizen of Darkness #111
Damned by Dore #42
Ubi dubium ibi libertas.

> --
> Timberwoof <timberwoof at infernosoft dot com>
> http://www.infernosoft.com/timberwoof/motorcycle/index.html
> a motorcycle faq: http://www.infernosoft.com/timberwoof/motorcycle/faq.shtml