Question

What is meant by the natural frequency of vibration of a body?

Answer 1

Hint: Vibration of a body is defined as the periodic back and forth motion of the particles of an elastic body or medium. Since, vibration of a body occurs due to free vibration, forced vibration, and damped vibration. In the given question we need to define the vibration of a body due to natural frequency.

Complete step by step answer:
The natural frequency of the object is known as the frequency or frequencies at which an object tends to vibrate when hit, struck, plucked, strummed or somehow disturbed. Every object has a natural frequency or set of frequencies at which it vibrates. The quality of the sound produced by a vibrating object depends upon the natural frequencies of the sound waves produced by the objects.
Vibration of an object other than natural frequencies occurs due to damping force which is defined as the influence within or upon an oscillatory system that has the effect of reducing, restricting or preventing its oscillation.
Hence, natural frequency is the frequency at which a body tends to oscillate in the absence of any driving or damping force.
Elastic bodies that vibrate freely are called natural vibrations and happen at a frequency called natural frequency. Natural vibrations are distinct from forced vibration because it happens at frequency of applied force.

Note: Some things that should be kept in our mind are that there are several factors that affect the natural frequency of an object. Some of them are temperature, conditions in the surrounding area. The change in velocity and wavelength also reflects a great fluctuation in the natural frequency of the body.