🎶 Worksheet: The Physics of a Flute.
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Name: ___________________ Date: ___________________
Topic: Sound and the Physics of a Flute
Part A – Reading Comprehension
The flute is a musical instrument that produces sound through the vibration of air, not strings or
reeds. It is a member of the woodwind family, even though modern flutes are usually made of
metal such as silver or nickel.
How a Flute Produces Sound
When a player blows across the embouchure hole (the mouthpiece), a stream of air splits across
the edge of the hole. This causes the air inside the flute tube to vibrate. These vibrations create
sound waves, which travel through the air to our ears.
The pitch (how high or low the note sounds) depends on the length of the air column vibrating
inside the flute. When the player opens or closes holes along the flute’s body, the length of the
vibrating air column changes:
Closing holes makes the air column longer → lower pitch
Opening holes shortens the air column → higher pitch
Frequency and Pitch
Sound waves have a frequency, measured in hertz (Hz). This tells us how many vibrations occur
per second. Higher frequencies create higher-pitched sounds.
For example:
A note with a frequency of 440 Hz sounds higher than one with 220 Hz.
A skilled flute player controls both the speed of their breath and the finger positions to
play different notes accurately.
Standing Waves and Resonance
The flute acts as a resonance tube, meaning it supports standing waves. Standing waves occur
when reflected sound waves inside the tube interfere with incoming waves. This creates areas of
no movement (called nodes) and areas of maximum vibration (called antinodes).
Different notes correspond to different harmonics, or patterns of standing waves, inside the flute.
The fundamental (lowest) note has the longest wavelength; higher harmonics fit more nodes and
antinodes into the same space, creating higher-pitched sounds.
Amplitude and Loudness
The amplitude of the sound wave affects how loud the sound is. Blowing harder increases the
energy of the air vibrations, producing a louder sound. However, if the player blows too hard, the
pitch may shift because the air flow changes the wave pattern.
Part B – Comprehension Questions
1. What type of musical instrument is a flute?
2. Explain how the flute produces sound when air is blown across the embouchure hole.
3. What happens to the pitch when more holes are closed on the flute?
4. What does frequency measure in sound waves?
5. Which sound has a higher pitch: 220 Hz or 440 Hz?
6. Define resonance in your own words.
7. What are nodes and antinodes in a standing wave?
8. Why does blowing harder on a flute make the sound louder?
9. How does changing the length of the air column affect the wavelength of the sound wave?
10. Which physical property of sound determines how loud it is?
Part C – Short Written Task
Choose one:
Write a short paragraph (6–8 sentences) explaining one of the following:
How a flute player changes pitch and volume.
How standing waves form inside the flute and create musical notes.
Why the flute can be considered a “tube resonator.”
Use terms such as frequency, wavelength, amplitude, resonance, and vibration correctly.
Extension Challenge (Optional). Velocity = frequency X wavelength
A flute plays a note with a wavelength of 0.78 m. The speed of sound in air is approximately 340
m/s.
1. Calculate the frequency of the note.
2. If the player shortens the air column so the wavelength becomes 0.68 m, what is the new
frequency?
3. Explain what happens to the pitch when the air column is shortened.
