Pipe Organ Physics

Organ pipes are acoustic resonators. Open pipes support all harmonics; closed pipes support only odd harmonics. Pipe length determines pitch.

Pipe & Pressure Mode Visualization

Closed end (foot)Open end (top)

Controls

Pipe type

Harmonic mode: 1st (fundamental)

Pipe length L: 1.00 m

Fundamental: -- Hz
This mode: -- Hz
Wavelength λ: -- m
Nodes: -- | Antinodes: --

Open pipe: f_n = n·c/(2L), n=1,2,3…
Closed pipe: f_n = n·c/(4L), n=1,3,5…
(c = 343 m/s at 20°C)

Keyboard — click to play a note