Two organ pipes are identical except that one is filled with oxygen and other filled with a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen. The temperature and total pressure in each pipe are also the same. When the two are sounded together a note of 440 Hz is heard and beats once every second. What is the percentage partial pressure of the nitrogen in the mixture ? Assume that the molecular weight of oxygen is 32 and of nitrogen 28, and their principal specific heats are identical.
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(3.6%)
The pipe with nitrogen has lower density, higher speed of sound and
∴ high frequency
So let frequency be 440, 441 Hz as shown
O 2 440
O 2 + N 2 441
Since c = 
= λf and ρ ∝ molecular weight
we can write 
= 
= 
where n = fraction of N 2 .
= 
giving n = 0.03624 or 3.6%
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