Understanding Standing Waves and Harmonics in Musical Instruments

What type of wave is sound classified as?

• Transverse wave

• Longitudinal wave

• Surface wave

• Electromagnetic wave

What is a standing wave?

• A wave that oscillates in a circular motion

• A wave that changes its medium

• A wave that travels in one direction

• A wave that appears to be stationary

What are the points called where a standing wave does not oscillate?

• Nodes

• Crests

• Antinodes

• Troughs

What is the simplest form of a standing wave called?

• Second harmonic

• Fundamental

• Overtone

• Third harmonic

How many nodes does the second harmonic of a string with two fixed ends have?

• 4

• 3

• 2

• 5

What is the relationship between the number of the harmonic and the number of wavelengths that fit on a string?

• Number of harmonic minus 1

• Number of harmonic plus 1

• Number of harmonic divided by 2

• Number of harmonic multiplied by 2

What is the fundamental frequency of a standing wave with two fixed ends equal to?

• Velocity divided by twice the length of the string

• Velocity multiplied by twice the length of the string

• Velocity multiplied by the length of the string

• Velocity divided by the length of the string

What is the difference in standing waves between a pipe with two open ends and a string with two fixed ends?

• A pipe with two open ends has nodes at each end

• A pipe with two open ends has antinodes at each end

• A string with two fixed ends has antinodes at each end

• A string with two fixed ends has no nodes

Why can't a pipe with one closed end have even-numbered harmonics?

• Because it would need a node on both ends

• Because it would need an antinode on both ends

• Because it would need a peak on both ends

• All of the above

Why do different musical instruments sound different even when playing the same note?

• Because of the different shapes of the instruments

• Because of the different harmonics and their amplitudes

• Because of the different materials used

• Because of the different lengths of the instruments