A bowed string cycles between slow grip and fast release phases

Evidence

One complete cycle of the motion of the string immediately under a bow moving in one direction is illustrated in the graph on the right-hand side of Figure 4.8. (When the bow moves in the other direction, the pattern is reversed.) The string moves at a constant velocity when it is gripped by the bow hairs and then returns rapidly through its rest position until it is gripped by the bow hairs again. If the minute detail of the motion of the bowed string is observed closely, for example by means of stroboscopic illumination, it is seen to consist of two straight-line segments joining at a point that moves at a constant velocity around the dotted track as shown in the snapshot sequence in Figure 4.8. — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 1106

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: A bowed string alternates constant-velocity grip with rapid snapback motion; A bowed string vibrates as a traveling kink, not as smooth standing waves; Bowed strings alternate between stick and slip motion — David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 1129 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Bowed strings alternate between stick and slip motion #corroborates (0.98) — David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 1129
• A bowed string alternates constant-velocity grip with rapid snapback motion #expands (0.95)
• Bowed string motion is a stick-slip effect producing a sawtooth wave #expands (0.92) — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 670
• A bowed string moves in two straight segments joined at a moving corner #expands (0.85)
• A bowed string vibrates as a traveling kink, not as smooth standing waves #corroborates (0.75)