What Determines the Speed of Sound in an Organ Pipe?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the physics of sound waves in an organ pipe, specifically one that is 2.5 m long and closed at one end. Participants explore concepts related to wave speed, frequency, and the behavior of air molecules within the pipe, as described by a given displacement equation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants attempt to determine the average speed of air molecules at a displacement antinode and question whether it is zero. They discuss the implications of infinite pipe length on wave speed and explore how to find the lowest frequency of a stationary wave. There are inquiries about the relationship between pressure, temperature, and density in determining sound speed.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing insights and questioning each other's reasoning. Some guidance has been offered regarding the nature of nodes and antinodes in half-open pipes, and there is an ongoing exploration of the implications of different harmonics and wave equations.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the complexities of wave behavior in finite versus infinite pipes, and there is some uncertainty regarding the definitions of inherent properties of gases. The original problem statement includes multiple parts that may refer to different aspects of wave behavior, leading to some confusion.

  • #31
True! Thank you!
 
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  • #32
If you don't mind, can I just ask you one more thing please? What experimental evidence is there that sound travels in air as a progressive, longitudinal wave? I'm not sure which one fits proper experimental evidence.

You know what the funny thing is, for part iii where it was asking for the lowest possible frequency, I get the same answer with both methods: fn=n f1 and the way we did it. 90 Hz for both.
 
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