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Why guitars have a hollow box

A string on its own makes only a tiny sound because it moves very little air. A hollow box with a hole shakes along with the string and pushes lots of air, so the sound gets loud.

In the picture

  1. A string alone: it moves little air, so the sound is faint
  2. A flat board: it shakes with the string and makes a bit more sound
  3. A hollow box with a hole: it resonates and makes a loud sound

Examples

  • A guitar’s wooden body makes its strings sound loud.
  • A violin’s hollow body fills a room with music.

Quiz: Why guitars have a hollow box (Age 9)

  1. What sound does a guitar string make when it is on its own, with no box?

    • A medium-loud sound
    • A very loud sound
    • A very quiet sound
  2. Why is the sound of a string on its own so faint?

    • The string is too short
    • It moves very little air
    • The string is too heavy to shake
  3. How does a hollow box with a hole make the sound of a string louder?

    • It shakes with the string and pushes lots of air
    • It makes the string shake faster
    • It keeps the sound locked inside the box

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Science, Age 9