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Highway Lane Dividers: Musical Notes & Speed Calculation Explained
Chapter 16, Problem Q16.7(choose chapter or problem)
Lane dividers on highways sometimes have regularly spaced ridges or ripples. When the tires of a moving car roll along such a divider, a musical note is produced. Why? Explain how this phenomenon could be used to measure the car’s speed.
Questions & Answers
QUESTION:
Lane dividers on highways sometimes have regularly spaced ridges or ripples. When the tires of a moving car roll along such a divider, a musical note is produced. Why? Explain how this phenomenon could be used to measure the car’s speed.
ANSWER:Step 1 of 3
The reason why lane dividers on highways produce a musical note when car tires roll over them is due to a phenomenon called "stick-slip friction."
When a car tire rolls over the ridges or ripples on a lane divider, it causes the tire to vibrate slightly. These vibrations create a sound that we perceive as a musical note. It's similar to running your finger along the edge of a comb, which also produces a sound.
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Highway Lane Dividers: Musical Notes & Speed Calculation Explained
Want To Learn More? To watch the entire video and ALL of the videos in the series:
Discover the physics behind the musical notes produced when car tires interact with highway lane dividers. This video explains the "stick-slip friction" phenomenon and its relation to tire vibrations. Learn how analyzing sound frequencies can offer insights into vehicle speeds