Harmonics - MCAT Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems

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Question

If the first overtone of a sound wave in a pipe with one end open and one end closed has a frequency of 300Hz, what is the frequency of the second overtone?

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Answer

In an open-closed pipe, we get only odd harmonics, since there must always be a displacement node at the closed end and a displacement antinode at the open end. So, the first overtone is the same as the third harmonic, which has . Similarly, the second overtone is the fifth harmonic, which has . Using the given value of in the first overtone to be 300Hz, we find and .

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