1. Airflow: When a flutist blows air into the flute, they create an airstream that enters the instrument through the embouchure hole. This airstream is typically directed against the edge of the embouchure hole.
2. Bernoulli Effect: As the airstream hits the edge of the embouchure hole, it creates a region of low pressure. This is due to the Bernoulli effect, which states that as the speed of a fluid (in this case, air) increases, its pressure decreases.
3. Oscillating Air Column: The low-pressure region created by the Bernoulli effect causes air inside the flute to be sucked out through the embouchure hole. This generates a disturbance or vibration in the air column inside the flute.
4. Standing Waves: The air column inside the flute acts as a resonator. As the air vibrates, it creates standing waves, which are stationary waves that remain fixed in space. Each standing wave has a specific frequency and wavelength, which determines the pitch of the note produced.
5. Resonance: The shape and design of the flute, including its length and the placement of tone holes, are designed to resonate with specific frequencies. When the flutist blows air into the flute and creates a standing wave that matches one of the flute's resonant frequencies, the sound is amplified and projected.
6. Finger Positioning: By opening and closing different tone holes on the flute with their fingers, flutists can change the length of the vibrating air column and thereby control the pitch of the notes produced.
In summary, vibrations on the flute are produced when an airstream is directed across the embouchure hole, creating a low-pressure region and causing the air column inside the flute to vibrate. The standing waves generated within the flute resonate at specific frequencies, amplifying and projecting the sound.