Tuning-fork

Tuning-fork, a contrivance for regulating the pitch of the voice or of a musical instrument. It consists of two prongs of steel springing from a handle, and so adjusted as to produce a fixed note when struck. It is usually tuned in C in Britain and in A in Germany, but there is great diversity as to what should be the pitch of C (see PITCH). There are forks which are capable of adjustment to different standards of pitch by means of a movable brass slider fitted with a screw. Tuning-forks are much used in experiments on Sound (q.v.).