eli5. how do Whistles work? Is there some sort of black magic formula that only whistle makers know ? (background: I’ve been trying to make a wooden whistle) I need a solid’ if this then that’ kind of answer please cos the tutorials I’ve seen have all been wishy washy

Question

eli5. how do Whistles work? Is there some sort of black magic formula that only whistle makers know ? (background: I’ve been trying to make a wooden whistle) I need a solid’ if this then that’ kind of answer please cos the tutorials I’ve seen have all been wishy washy

In: Engineering

Answer 1

Whistles work by having a slot for air to move through that then hits something that splits the air into two different directions. The part that the ‘air splitter’ is connected to is made of a material, like wood, that will resonate at the frequencies that the disturbed air will vibrate at, which in turn makes the sound of a whistle.

[http://www.physics.mcgill.ca/~guymoore/ph224/notes/lecture23.pdf](http://www.physics.mcgill.ca/~guymoore/ph224/notes/lecture23.pdf)

Answer 2

How whistles works: there is a blade that redirect a stream of air inside, then outside, then inside, then outside, etc…

How? The inside is a closed cavity, when the air goes inside, it increase the pressure, which quickly push the stream of air on the other side of the blade and make it go outside. When the air goes outside, it catch some of the air from the cavity with it, thus decreasing the pressure, and eventually redirecting the air towards the inside of the blade.

The size of the cavity will change the tone. The blade need to be sharp and right in the middle of the incoming air jet. The only exit/entry from the cavity must be through the jet of air so as to deviate it.

Answer 3

What are you trying to figure out?

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=make+a+wooden+whistle#kpvalbx=_5z8XYOu1CJSo5NoPrKSCyA414

Looks extremely straightforward to make a simple whistle (not tuned to any particular note). Note that the blowing end does need to be mostly closed off. There’s no black magic formula here: as you see in the video, the guy doesn’t measure anything. All that matters is that the air is directed towards the splitter and that the tube is long enough that the whistle be audible (unless you have a dog then even a very short tube will produce an observable outcome).

Answer 4

Thanks for the helpful information.
Key points :

Resonant chamber must be large enough for audible sound

Reed must be cleanly sloped to direct air to the blade

Blade must cut air cleanly halfway through the stream

Exit hole must be the right size

[this is the explanation/ how to ](https://youtu.be/tpzU8yQ_9cM)

Edit:update