Resonant Frequency and Air Column Length

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of resonant frequency in relation to the length of an air column, particularly in the context of sound waves and musical instruments. Participants are exploring how the length of the air column affects the frequency of the sound produced.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are questioning the relationship between the length of the air column and the resonant frequency, with some suggesting that a longer column would lead to a lower frequency and others attempting to clarify this relationship through examples from musical instruments.

Discussion Status

The discussion includes various perspectives on the relationship between air column length and frequency, with some participants affirming the idea that longer tubes produce lower frequencies. There is an ongoing exploration of these concepts without a clear consensus.

Contextual Notes

Some participants reference specific musical instruments to illustrate their points, indicating a practical context for the theoretical discussion. There is also a sense of uncertainty regarding the correct interpretation of the relationship between air column length and frequency.

garytse86
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Hi. The experiment is set up so that a loudspeaker is suspended oer a column of air. When sound is sent through the air column, the particls of air will vibrate. The amplitude is related to the loudness of the sound so when the particles vibrate at their maximum amplitude (resonance) the sound will be at its loudest.

Would you expect the resonant frequency to be higher or lower of the air-column was longer?

I would say the resonant frequency to be higher because the natural frequency of the air particles would be higher, is this correct?
 
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think about instruments. how much tube is there for a flute or a trumpet?how much tube is there for a trombone or a tuba? which is the bigger instrument: alto saxophone or bass saxophone?
/s
 
the longer the tube, the lower the pitch of sound, so lower frequency.
So, the short the air column, the higher the frequency. Is this right?
 
Last edited:
Can someone please help?
 
garytse86 said:
the longer the tube, the lower the pitch of sound, so lower frequency.
So, the short the air column, the higher the frequency. Is this right?
Right. The fundamental frequency is inversely proportional to the length of the tube.
 
Thanks Doc Al.
 

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