Question

The speed of sound in room temperature (20°C) air is 343 m/s; in room temperature helium, it is 1010 m/s. The fundamental frequency of an open-closed tube is 315 Hz when the tube is filled with air. What is the fundamental frequency if the air is replaced with helium?

Answer 1

Answer: f = 927.55Hz

Explanation: Since the the tube is open-closed, the length of air and the wavelength of sound passing through the tube is given below

L = λ/4 where λ = wavelength.

speed of sound in air = v = 343m/s.

fundamental frequency of open closed tube = 315Hz

λ = 4L.

v = fλ

343 = 315 * 4L

343 = 1260 * L

L = 343/ 1260

L = 0.27m

In the same tube of length L = 0.27m but different medium ( helium), the speed of sound is 1010m/s.

The length of tube and wavelength are related by the formulae below

L = λ/4, λ=4L

λ = 4 * 0.27

λ = 1.087m.

v = fλ

1010 = f * 1.087

f = 1010/1.807

f = 927.55Hz