Why does a tubes length affect wavelength of soundwave?

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The length of a tube in a wind instrument affects the wavelength of sound waves because only specific wavelengths resonate within the tube, determined by its length. Longer tubes can accommodate more compressions and rarefactions, but not all wavelengths can persist; only those that match the tube's dimensions are reinforced. The speed of sound remains constant, as it is a property of the gas inside the tube, regardless of the tube's length. Therefore, the relationship between tube length and wavelength is crucial for understanding sound production in wind instruments. This highlights the importance of standing waves in determining which wavelengths are amplified.
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In a wind instrument for example. Wouldn't a longer tube simply allow more compressions/rarefactions to be moving through the tube at anyone time? Why does the wavelength change?
 
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physicsnnewbie said:
In a wind instrument for example. Wouldn't a longer tube simply allow more compressions/rarefactions to be moving through the tube at anyone time?
If one tube has length L, and another tube has length L+l,where l is the wavelength, then L+l has one more wave in the tube, but the speed of propagation (speed of sound) is a property of the gas in the tube, not the length of the tube.
 

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