Two prongs of a tuning fork are hit on a rubber pad to produce certain frequency.If the two prongs are coated with a thick layer of wax, then after hitting it on a rubber pad,its frequency will

Explanation

The correct answer is that the frequency will decrease. When the prongs of a tuning fork are coated with a thick layer of wax, the added mass increases the inertia of the prongs, causing them to vibrate more slowly. As a result, the frequency of the sound produced is reduced. The incorrect options are based on misunderstandings of how mass affects vibration: adding mass does not increase the frequency, and it does not prevent the tuning fork from vibrating altogether, so the frequency does not become zero. The frequency also does not remain unchanged because the physical properties of the prongs have been altered by the additional mass.