# Question #f8fc7

Apr 30, 2014

See below.

#### Explanation:

This depends on whether the pipe is closed or open-ended.

The fundamental frequency of a pipe is the simplest, smallest portion of a wave that can fit into a pipe. At the open end of a pipe, there is always an antinode - an area with maximum air movement.

If it is an open-ended pipe, there is an antinode at each end, meaning that the length of the pipe is equal to $L = \frac{1}{2} \lambda$.

Manipulating the formula $v = f \lambda$ to solve for the fundamental frequency leaves us with

$f = \frac{v}{2 L} \to$ in an open-ended pipe.

If it is a closed-ended pipe, there is an antinode at the open end and a node at the closed end - causing the sound to reflect - meaning that the length of the pipe is equal to $L = \frac{1}{4} \lambda$.

Again, if we manipulate the formula $v = f \lambda$ to solve for the fundamental frequency, this leaves us with

$f = \frac{v}{4 L} \to$ in a closed-ended pipe.

This website can give further explanation for you.