The Physics Classroom: Sound Waves and Music: Closed End Air Columns

Through illustrated diagrams and interactive practice examples, students explore the physics of sound in open-end air column musical instruments.

Physics is like music—practice makes perfect! Challenge your class using an interactive that builds harmonic skills. The engaging lesson from a playlist exploring sounds and waves revolves around wave behavior in closed-end air columns....

In this illustrated physics tutorial, students learn about sound wave behaviors and apply them to the reflection, diffraction, and refraction of sound waves.

Ever wonder what really goes on inside a clarinet? Show your young scientists the physics of open-end air columns through an easy-to-use interactive. Learners examine the features of standing waves and calculate frequency and length in a...

Learners investigate the nature of a sound wave, sound properties, resonance, musical instruments, and standing waves. The tutorial consists of lessons and problems to check for understanding.

The focus of this physics tutorial is on the application of mathematical relationships and standing wave concepts to musical instruments in three general categories of instruments: instruments with vibrating strings, open-end air column...

Using diagrams and animations, students discover how the anatomy of the ear and the physics of sound waves work together to allow us to hear.

The behavior of light waves is introduced and discussed. Also, polarization, color, diffraction, and interference are introduced and discussed thoroughly as supporting evidence of the wave nature of light.

This interactive physics tutorial allows students to investigate the nature, properties and behaviors of sound waves and apply basic wave principles towards an understanding of music.

For musical instruments and other objects that vibrate in regular and periodic fashion, the harmonic frequencies are related to each other by simple whole number ratios. Students learn why these whole number ratios exist for a musical...