A flute is similar to a pipe open at both ends, while a clarinet is similar to a pipe closed at one end. Explain why the fundamental frequency of a flute is about twice that of the clarinet, even though the length of these two instruments is approximately the same

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Arts

Magdalena Barnes

18 February, 21:15

A flute is similar to a pipe open at both ends, while a clarinet is similar to a pipe closed at one end. Explain why the fundamental frequency of a flute is about twice that of the clarinet, even though the length of these two instruments is approximately the same

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Cason Villarreal · Answer 1

The flute is an open pipe, open at both ends and the clarinet is a closed pipe, closed at one end open at the other. The wavelength of the flute is then twice the length of the pipe while four times that o the clarinet. The flute has antinodes on both ends, while the clarinet only has this on one.