Question

The trunk of a elephant may extend up to 2.2 m. It acts much like an organ pipe only open at one end when the elephant blows air through it. 1) Calculate the fundamental frequency of the sound the elephant can create with its trunk.2) If the elephant blows even harder, the next harmonic may be sounded. What is the frequency of the first overtone?

Answer 1

1) f = 38.63 Hz , 2) f = 115.9 Hz

Step-by-step explanation:

The elephant's trunk can be approximated by a tube with a closed end, in pipes the closed ends correspond to nodes and the open ends to antinodes or bellies.

The expression for the wavelengths of this system is

4L = n λ

n = 1, 3, 5, 7 ...

also let's use the relationship between frequency and wavelength and wave speed

v = λ f

f = v / λ

f = v n / 4L

f = v / 4L n

1) the fundamental frequency occurs for n = 1

f = 340/4 2.2 1

f = 38.63 Hz

2) The first harmonic

n = 3

f = 340/4 2.2 3

f = 115.9 Hz