Standing waves and organs, harmonics?

Thread starter Kratos321
Start date May 24, 2011
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Harmonics Standing waves Waves

In summary, standing waves are a type of wave that occurs when two identical waves traveling in opposite directions interfere with each other. They can form in organs when sound waves reflect off the walls and create areas of high and low pressure, resulting in the characteristic sound of an organ. Harmonics are frequencies that are integer multiples of the fundamental frequency of a standing wave and are important in organ music as they add depth and allow for a wider range of notes to be played. Standing waves and harmonics can also be observed in other instruments such as string instruments, wind instruments, and percussion instruments.

May 24, 2011

Kratos321

Is the second harmonic produced by middle c on the organ the same as the C note in the following octave?
just a little confusion

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May 24, 2011

SpectraCat

Science Advisor

Kratos321 said:

Is the second harmonic produced by middle c on the organ the same as the C note in the following octave?
just a little confusion

yes.

1. What are standing waves?

Standing waves are a type of wave that occurs when two identical waves traveling in opposite directions interfere with each other. This results in a pattern of nodes (points of no displacement) and antinodes (points of maximum displacement) along the medium.

2. How do standing waves form in organs?

Standing waves can form in organs when sound waves produced by the organ pipes reflect off the walls of the organ and interfere with each other. This creates stationary areas of high and low pressure, resulting in the characteristic sound of an organ.

3. What are harmonics in relation to standing waves?

Harmonics are frequencies that are integer multiples of the fundamental frequency of a standing wave. In organs, harmonics are created when the length of the organ pipes is a multiple of the fundamental wavelength, resulting in stronger and more complex standing waves.

4. Why are harmonics important in organ music?

Harmonics are important in organ music because they add depth and richness to the sound produced by the organ. They also allow for a wider range of notes to be played on the organ, as different harmonics can be produced by changing the length of the organ pipes.

5. Can standing waves and harmonics be observed in other instruments?

Yes, standing waves and harmonics can be observed in other instruments such as string instruments, wind instruments, and percussion instruments. In string instruments, the length of the string can be changed to produce different harmonics, while in wind instruments, the length of the air column can be changed by opening or closing holes to produce different harmonics.