Can Closed Pipes Produce Overtones from a Single Frequency Vibration?

AI Thread Summary
Vibrating a tuning fork over a closed pipe can indeed produce overtones, despite the fork emitting a single frequency. The interaction of the tuning fork's sound wave with the pipe's closed end creates pressure variations that lead to overtones, resulting in a sound quality distinct from the pure tone of the fork. The amplitude of these overtones is influenced by the pipe's dimensions, with narrower pipes yielding a purer tone but still allowing for low-level overtones. The fundamental frequency typically remains the loudest, but the presence of overtones can subtly enhance the overall sound quality. Thus, closed pipes can generate a richer auditory experience even when excited by a single frequency.
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If you vibrate a tuning fork over a closed pipe (a pipe with one end closed and the other open) is it possible to get overtones in the pipe even thought the tuning fork only vibrates at one frequency
For example if you have a tuning fork of freq 300HZ and you allow it too vibrate above a closed pipe is it possible to get 3 times the frequency e.g. 900Hz?
 
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Because of end effects, the pressure wave is not purely sinusoidal, leading to some overtones. That is why the sound from the pipe has a different quality than the pure tuning fork.
 
Thanks for your reply. That is what I imagined. However wouldn't the overtones be very diminished? I mean would the fundamental frequency appear the loudest?
 
The strength of the overtones would depend on the length/radius of the pipe.
A narrower pipe would have a purer tone, but even a low level of overtones can affect the quality of the sound.
 

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