Scientific principles involved in Pan flute

zabachi

I am doing a physics project on finding the scientific principles involved in pan flute. Could people just put down some phenomenon that is relevant to this? One I know I think is the helmholtz principle, but can I use those equations, becuase from what I read, it seems like there is water invloved for it?

zabachi

This can be like a discussion and its quite interesting the physics behind music

zabachi

Anyone can help or tell me how i can use Helmholt resonance

maimonides

No, pan flutes do not work like a Helmholtz resonator.
Can you please explain what the water is for in a pan flute? I´ve not heard of this before.

There was a thread about pan flutes here:
http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?p=3806786
You´ll find formulae and references there.

zabachi

Sorry its not in a panflute but one of my friend said that he would push something and this pitch of the sound changed as the volume decreased but im not sure. I had seen that link before and already included those in my project. I wanted more like acoustic impedance, overtone and maybe more. And i wasnt talking about helmholtz resonator but helmholtz resonance(phenomenon) Here is the wiki link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmholtz_resonance

maimonides

To my way of thinking a Helmholtz resonator is something in which the "Helmholtz resonance phenomenon" happens, not only the devices Helmholtz used.
A blown bottle is a Helmholtz resonator and you can tune it by changing the amount of water in it. This may be what your friend was talking about.
An ocarina also uses Helmholtz resonance.
In guitars and string instruments the Helmholtz resonator made by the soundhole/f-holes and the body volume is quite important in determining sound and timbre.
I recommend the book by Fletcher/Rossing: The physics of musical instruments. It is a very good introduction to musical acoustics.

zabachi

Thanks alot!!