News Physics

Here’s why pipe organs seem to violate a rule of sound

A vortex of vibrating air extends pipe length, lowering fundamental tone

image of a pipe organ

A swirling cap of resonating air explains why the fundamental tones of wind instruments including pipe organs and flutes sound lower than math says they should.

Eric Mok/Unsplash

By Bas den Hond

A speck of gold dancing to a pipe organ’s tune has helped solve a long-standing mystery: why certain wind instruments violate a mathematical formula that should describe their sound.

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