What happens when a stringed instrument is strummed or rubbed with a bow?

When a stringed instrument is strummed or rubbed with a bow, the strings vibrate, creating sound waves. Strumming typically excites the strings in a more abrupt manner, producing a percussive sound, while bowing generates a continuous tone as the bow's friction causes the strings to vibrate more smoothly. These vibrations are transferred to the instrument's body, amplifying the sound and enriching its tonal quality. The pitch of the sound produced depends on the string's tension, length, and mass.