How do we hear multiple sounds when it’s just one air vibrating?

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Like for example when I’m listening to an orchestra I can hear a clarinet and a violin quite distinctly from one another, but they’re both sounds vibrating through the same air. Logically, shouldn’t one air only be able to carry one frequency (Vibrate in only one way)? How does the air contain so many frequencies simultaneously?

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Anonymous 0 Comments

Here’s a simple diagram: [https://puu.sh/Jo4TD/e80645943c.png](https://puu.sh/Jo4TD/e80645943c.png)

First line is how a high frequency, treble note looks like.

Second line is how a low frequency bass note looks like.

Third line is them both being heard at the same time. You can combine any number of random notes like this, you just add together the different vibrations.

Oh and if you have two vibrations that are opposite of each other, they can cancel each other out, that’s how noise canceling headphones work. [https://puu.sh/Jo4S0/49836b7f8b.png](https://puu.sh/Jo4S0/49836b7f8b.png)

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