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Q.Explain the modes of vibrations of an air column in a closed pipe.

Andhra Pradesh BieapBIEAP Intermediate Board (1st Year) 2026Subjective· 4mImportance★★★★★
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A closed organ pipe supports only odd harmonics of its fundamental frequency v/4L, because the closed end must always be a displacement node and the open end an antinode.

A pipe closed at one end and open at the other reflects sound waves such that the CLOSED end is always a node (no air displacement possible there) and the OPEN end is always an antinode (maximum air displacement). Standing waves form inside the pipe subject to this boundary condition.

Fundamental mode (1st harmonic): The simplest standing wave pattern has one node at the closed end and one antinode at the open end, spanning a quarter wavelength within the pipe length L:

L = λ1/4 → λ1 = 4L → fundamental frequency f1 = v/4L

First overtone (3rd harmonic): The next possible mode fits 3 quarter-wavelengths into L:

L = 3λ2/4 → f2 = 3v/4L = 3 f1

Second overtone (5th harmonic): Fits 5 quarter-wavelengths into L:

L = 5λ3/4 → f3 = 5v/4L = 5 f1

In general, the closed pipe supports only ODD harmonics: …

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