Fun Fact Physics

Flute

By: Mahnoor Farooqi - Researcher

The function of most musical instruments is heavily dependent on the physics of sound. Flutes are no different! Essentially the music is produced when air ,blown through the open hole (although it appears closed) of the flute , strikes against the sharp further edge of the hole. This movement causes a displacement and a number of resonances (deflections) as the air travels through the flute to any of the other open holes - of which the flute has many - where sound is produced.

As air passes through it loses energy due to friction while deflecting which is quickly replaced by more energy provided by the player, This energy is then converted to sound energy at openings.

Flutes automatically play at the greatest resonance with a fixed frequency , fluteists are able to control the frequencies of sound in two ways, either by blowing harder which results in a higher frequency or by using the other holes on the flute. They can cover the holes on the flute to change the wavelength of resonances (deflections), the shorter wavelength resulting in a higher frequency.