2aMU2. Flute measurements in a Physics of Music lab

Abstract

The lab exercise presented here encourages students to look closely at the various parts that comprise the flute, and to make simple dimensional measurements of the acoustically relevant locations and diameters of the tone holes. The analysis helps make sense of the complicated mechanisms and fingerings with the use of a small number of acoustic principles. In this way we hope that students can bridge the gap between the physicist's ideal cylinder model and a real woodwind instrument. The exercise engages the Physics of Music students - and even flautists will notice new elements of their instrument.