Learning about sounds in physics, it is usually addressed that although the overtone spectrum has an effect on the observed timbre, the perceived pitch is determined only by the fundamental. But why do we assign the frequency of its fundamental to a sound, and why do we do so if the fundamental is not even present in the frequency spectrum?
References
1.
K.
Forinash
, “Pitch and frequency
,” Phys. Teach.
38
, 328
–329
(2000
).3.
A.
Seebeck
, “Ueber die Sirene
,” Ann. Phys.
136
, 449
–481
(1843
).4.
J. C.
Runge
, “Combination tones
,” Phys. Teach.
17
, 49
–51
(1979
).5.
G.
Langner
, “Die zeitliche Verarbeitung periodischer Signale im Hörsystem: Neuronale Repräsentation von Tonhöhe, Klang und Harmonizität
,” Z. Audiol.
46
, 8
–21
(2007
).6.
Spektroskop App, https://apps.apple.com/us/app/spektroskop/id517486614.
7.
N. H.
Fletcher
and T. D.
Rossing
(1998
), The Physics of Musical Instruments
(Springer Science + Business Media
, New York
), p. 162
.8.
SPEAR software, https://www.klingbeil.com/spear/downloads/.
9.
Readers can listen to the audio file at TPT Online at https://doi.org/10.1119/5.0142178, under the Supplemental tab.
10.
C. W.
Leming
, “Simple demonstration of ‘missing fundamental’ in harmonically related sounds
,” Am. J. Phys.
52
, 470
–470
(1984
).© 2023 Author(s). Published under an exclusive license by American Association of Physics Teachers.
2023
Author(s)
AAPT members receive access to The Physics Teacher and the American Journal of Physics as a member benefit. To learn more about this member benefit and becoming an AAPT member, visit the Joining AAPT page.
