Consider a pipe of length L that is open at both ends.What are the wavelengths of the three lowest-pitch tones produced by this pipe?
A) 4L, 2L, L
B) 2L, L, L/2
C) 2L, L, 2L/3
D) 4L, 4L/3, 4L/5
E) 4L, 2L, L/2

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

For a pipe open at both ends, the wavelengths of the tones produced correspond to the standing waves that fit exactly within the length of the pipe. The fundamental frequency (lowest pitch) corresponds to a wavelength of 2L, where the pipe length is half a wavelength. The next harmonics are integer multiples of the fundamental frequency, so the second harmonic has a wavelength of L (2/2 * L), and the third harmonic has a wavelength of 2L/3 (3/2 * L).

Consider a Pipe of Length L That Is Open at Both