In this paper we describe a simple demonstration that shows how the Fourier spectrum of sound waves affect sound quality. It requires only a set of tuning forks, mounted on resonance boxes, and computer data collection hardware and software capable of capturing sound waves and displaying their waveforms and Fourier spectra.

1.
2.
MacScope II can be downloaded for free at the Physics 2000 website, ⟨http://www.physics2000.com/⟩.
3.
J. G.
Roederer
,
The Physics and Psychophysics of Music
, 4th ed. (
Springer
,
New York
,
2008
), pp.
49
55
.
4.
Charles W.
Leming
, “
Simple demonstration of “missing fundamental” in harmonically related sounds
,”
Am. J. Phys.
52
(
5
),
470
(
1984
).
5.
John E.
Smedley
, “
Spectrum analysis for introductory musical acoustics
,”
Am. J. Phys.
66
(
2
),
144
147
(
1998
).
6.
Geoffrey
Whaite
and
Joe
Wolfe
, “
Harmonic or Fourier synthesis in the teaching laboratory
,”
Am. J. Phys.
58
(
5
),
481
483
(
1990
).
7.
Ingo
Büll
and
Reimer
Lincke
, “
Teaching Fourier analysis in a microcomputer based laboratory
,”
Am. J. Phys.
64
(
7
),
906
913
(
1996
).
AAPT members receive access to the American Journal of Physics and The Physics Teacher as a member benefit. To learn more about this member benefit and becoming an AAPT member, visit the Joining AAPT page.