Question

Why are bells made up of metals and not wood?

Answer 1

Hint: Density of a material affects the sound waves passing through a material. A denser and stiffer material will be able to transfer sound waves efficiently while less dense will cause scattering of waves.

Complete step by step solution:
Before answering this question let us discuss sound waves and how they are produced. Sound waves are made up of kinetic energy. Sound waves are basically a mechanical wave which results from the back and forth vibration of the particles of the medium through which the sound waves are passing.
In simple words, we can explain that sound waves are created due to the vibration of an object.
Now let us discuss why we use metals to make bells and not wood-
The density of the material is the basic factor which affects the sound waves passing through it. We know that metal is denser than wood which means that the molecules in metals are more closely packed than wood and thus allowing efficient transfer of energy through them. Wood is more porous and thus there occurs scattering of waves.
Now if we make a bell from wood instead of metals it will not produce as loud noise as metals because wood is not as elastic as metals. The elasticity of metal causes it to be sonorous. It’s the property of making the sound when hit by an object.
These are the reasons why we use metals to make a bell and not wood.

Note: We define metals and non-metals based on various properties they possess like metals are lustrous while non-metals are dull, metals are malleable and ductile whereas non-metals are not and metals are a good conductor of electricity but non-metals are not a good conductor of electricity. Some common examples of metals are gold, silver, aluminium, sodium etc. and non-metals are wood, iodine, phosphorus etc.