period 0.500 s
WAVES & SOUND · LAB 15
Beats between frequencies
Combine two nearby frequencies and watch a rapid carrier oscillation rise and fall inside a slow beat envelope.
SIMULATIONRUNNINGINTERFERENCECONSTRUCTIVETIME0.00 s
average frequency
15.67 cents
0 beats elapsed
ENVELOPE2.000
WHAT TO NOTICE
Difference creates rhythm
The two fast oscillations repeatedly align and oppose. Their frequency difference sets how often the combined sound swells, while their average frequency sets the pitch inside the envelope.
fbeat = |f₁ − f₂|