Four organ pipes are described below. Which one has the highest frequency fundamental?

Explanation

The fundamental frequency of a pipe is determined by whether it is open or closed at its ends. A pipe open at both ends supports a half-wave resonant frequency, while a pipe closed at one end supports a quarter-wave resonant frequency. The frequency is inversely proportional to the length of the pipe. Therefore, the shorter the pipe, the higher the fundamental frequency. Option C, a 1.6 m pipe with both ends open, will have the highest frequency because it is the shortest among the pipes that allow a half-wave resonance. The other options are either longer or closed at one end, resulting in lower fundamental frequencies.