Concept:
When two sound waves of slightly different frequencies travelling along the same path in a medium superimpose on each other, the intensity of the resultant sound at any point rises and falls periodically. This periodic alternation between maximum loudness (waxing) and minimum loudness (waning) is called beats.
The beat frequency (\( f_b \)), which represents the total number of beats heard per second, is simply equal to the absolute difference between the individual frequencies of the two interfering sound sources:
\[
f_b = |f_1 - f_2|
\]
where \( f_1 \) and \( f_2 \) are the frequencies of the two tuning forks.
Step 1: Identifying the individual source frequencies from the problem statement.
From the question, we are given the stable frequencies of the two tuning forks:
• Frequency of the first tuning fork, \( f_1 = 256 \text{ Hz} \)
• Frequency of the second tuning fork, \( f_2 = 260 \text{ Hz} \)
Step 2: Calculating the number of beats per second.
Using the algebraic difference relationship for beat calculation:
\[
f_b = |256 - 260| = |-4|
\]
\[
f_b = 4 \text{ beats per second}
\]
This calculated value corresponds exactly to option (B).