Physics
Harmonics: The Building Blocks of Sound and Waves
Quick fact
A harmonic is an integer multiple of the fundamental frequency. For a note at 110 Hz (A2), the second harmonic is 220 Hz, the third 330 Hz, and so on—forming the harmonic series.
Why this is interesting
When you hear a musical note, you're actually hearing a blend of multiple tones. But why does a flute sound different from a guitar playing the same note? The answer lies in harmonics.