Musical Instruments Flashcards
(32 cards)
What type of waves do stringed instruments use?
Transverse waves in stretched strings
Stringed instruments like violins and guitars utilize these waves to create sound through resonation.
In stringed instruments, what are the fixed ends of the string known as?
Nodes
Nodes are points on a standing wave where the wave has minimum amplitude.
What is the formula for the fundamental mode of a stringed instrument?
L = N2
L represents the length of the string, and N is a constant related to the wave properties.
How do higher harmonics relate to the length of the string in stringed instruments?
L = N2n
‘n’ represents the harmonic number, indicating that multiple antinodes can fit within the string length.
What two factors determine the wave speed in a stringed instrument?
- Tension (T)
- Mass per unit length (M)
These factors influence the resonant frequencies of the string.
What type of waves do tube and pipe instruments use?
Longitudinal sound waves
Instruments such as pipe organs and brass instruments rely on these waves to produce sound.
What are the ends of a pipe instrument known as?
Antinodes
Antinodes are points of maximum amplitude in a standing wave, located at the open ends of the pipe.
What is the equation for the fundamental mode of a pipe closed at one end?
L = N4
This shows that only odd-numbered harmonics can resonate in such a pipe.
How do brass instrument players change notes?
- Altering the length of the tube using valves or slides
- Altering lip pressure and vibration
These techniques help excite higher harmonics for different pitches.
What determines whether a woodwind instrument behaves as closed or open at one end?
The type of reed or mouthpiece
This affects how the instrument produces sound and its harmonic characteristics.
What effect does closing one end of a pipe have on harmonics?
Only odd-numbered harmonics will fit
This results in a brighter and harsher sound due to the absence of even harmonics.
What happens to the effective length of a guitar string when a player’s finger presses it against a fret?
It is shortened by one third
This change in length affects the frequency of the sound produced.
What is the consequence of changing the effective length of a string on wave speed?
The wave speed remains unaltered
Wave speed in a string is determined by tension and mass per unit length, which are not affected by changing length.
What is the critical angle in optics?
The angle of incidence at which total internal reflection occurs
This is significant in understanding how light behaves in optical fibers.
What factors affect the angle of refraction?
- The refractive index (n)
- The angle of incidence
These factors determine how light bends as it passes through different media.
True or False: Smooth sounds like a violin or a human voice contain a narrow mixture of harmonics.
False
Smooth sounds actually contain a wide mixture of harmonics, creating a complex waveform.
What type of waves do stringed instruments use?
Transverse waves in stretched strings
Stringed instruments like violins and guitars utilize these waves to create sound through resonation.
In stringed instruments, what are the fixed ends of the string known as?
Nodes
Nodes are points on a standing wave where the wave has minimum amplitude.
What is the formula for the fundamental mode of a stringed instrument?
L = N2
L represents the length of the string, and N is a constant related to the wave properties.
How do higher harmonics relate to the length of the string in stringed instruments?
L = N2n
‘n’ represents the harmonic number, indicating that multiple antinodes can fit within the string length.
What two factors determine the wave speed in a stringed instrument?
- Tension (T)
- Mass per unit length (M)
These factors influence the resonant frequencies of the string.
What type of waves do tube and pipe instruments use?
Longitudinal sound waves
Instruments such as pipe organs and brass instruments rely on these waves to produce sound.
What are the ends of a pipe instrument known as?
Antinodes
Antinodes are points of maximum amplitude in a standing wave, located at the open ends of the pipe.
What is the equation for the fundamental mode of a pipe closed at one end?
L = N4
This shows that only odd-numbered harmonics can resonate in such a pipe.
