Final answer:
A wind instrument that is closed at one end can produce the lowest frequency compared to one that is open at both ends, due to supporting only odd harmonics. The fundamental frequency is lower in a closed tube because it is the first harmonic, where a quarter wavelength fits, as opposed to the second harmonic in the open tube, where half a wavelength fits. The correct answer is b) Closed at one end.
Step-by-step explanation:
When comparing two wind instruments of identical length, one open at both ends and one closed at one end, it is the instrument closed at one end that can produce the lowest frequency. This is due to the fact that such an instrument supports only odd harmonics which have a longer wavelength (and thus a lower frequency) at the fundamental compared to an instrument that is open at both ends, which supports both even and odd harmonics. The lowest frequency produced is called the fundamental frequency or the first harmonic. In a closed tube, the fundamental frequency creates a standing wave with a quarter of its wavelength inside the tube, while an open tube fits half a wavelength for its fundamental frequency.
Therefore, for two tubes of the same length, the tube that is open at both ends has a fundamental frequency that represents the second harmonic of the closed tube. This means that for identical lengths, the closed tube's fundamental frequency will be lower as it is the first harmonic, showing that it is the one that can produce the lowest frequency.
The correct option for the question is: b) Closed at one end.