A microphone is connected to an oscilloscope. The diagram shows the trace on the screen when the microphone receives a pure note. Which trace can be obtained when a musical instrument produces a note of the same pitch but of a different quality?

Question

G1 Physics · Accepted Answer

Step 1: Same pitch means the fundamental frequency is unchanged, while different quality means a different mixture of harmonics/overtones. Step 2: Therefore the correct oscilloscope trace must have the same period as the pure tone but a different waveform shape. The source figure matching this condition is Image 2. Final: B.