instruments
7 questions tagged instruments — spanning every one of the seven Ws.
Which Musical Instrument Is Considered Hardest to Learn?
The French horn is widely regarded by musicians and educators as the most difficult orchestral instrument to master.
How Does a Piano Make Sound?
Pressing a piano key makes a felt-covered hammer strike tuned steel strings, whose vibrations are amplified by a large wooden soundboard.
What is a seismograph?
A seismograph is an instrument that records ground motion from earthquakes and other vibrations.
What is a seismometer?
A seismometer is the sensor that detects ground motion; a seismograph is the broader recording instrument.
What is an anemometer?
An anemometer is an instrument that measures wind speed, and some types also measure wind direction. It is a standard tool in weather stations and airports.
How do seismographs turn ground motion into earthquake records?
Seismographs detect ground vibration and convert it into a trace called a seismogram. Modern instruments can record motion smaller than a fraction of a micron.
How does a violin make sound?
A violin makes sound when a bow or finger sets its strings vibrating; the bridge passes those vibrations to the hollow wooden body, which amplifies them.