Why do some smaller instruments, such as piccolos, produce higher-pitched – [Free] B95
Why do some smaller instruments, such as piccolos, produce higher-pitched sounds than larger instruments, such as tubas? Question 12 options: A.Smaller instruments produce sounds with shorter wavelengths and thus higher frequencies. B.Smaller instruments produce longer wavelengths and thus higher amplitude sounds. C.Smaller instruments produce lower amplitudes and thus longer wavelength sounds. D.Smaller instruments produce higher amplitudes and thus lower frequency sounds.
Physics Question and Explanation
Question:
Why do some smaller instruments, such as piccolos, produce higher-pitched sounds than larger instruments, such as tubas?
Correct Answer: A. Smaller instruments produce sounds with shorter wavelengths and thus higher frequencies.
The pitch produced by a musical instrument is primarily determined by the wavelength (or equivalently, the frequency, since \( f = \frac{v}{\lambda} \), where \( v \) is the speed of sound and \( \lambda \) is the wavelength).
Smaller instruments, like piccolos, typically have shorter air columns. These shorter columns support sound waves that have shorter wavelengths. Since the speed of sound in air remains roughly constant, a shorter wavelength directly results in a higher frequency.
Higher frequencies are perceived by the human ear as higher-pitched sounds. Hence, piccolos produce higher-pitched sounds compared to larger instruments like tubas, which have longer air columns and therefore produce longer wavelengths and lower frequencies.