This lab should help you better understand the mechanics of sound waves generated by a vibrating string. First we will look at plots of the vibration versus time. Next, we will look at the effects of plucking the string harder. We will apply theory about exponential decays to estimate the decay time constant of the vibrating string recording. Next, we will consider the pitch of the sound and attempt to determine the string's fundamental frequency. Finally, we will observe signal components with frequencies other than the fundamental frequency (so-called ``harmonics'' or ``overtones''). The profile of signal energy at various frequencies is known as the spectrum, and we will see how the vibration spectrum can be manipulated by changing various parameters of the string and its plucking excitation.
