Here's why:
* Mediums are generally considered to be continuous: A medium like air, water, or steel doesn't have a "fundamental frequency" in the same way that a guitar string does. The medium itself doesn't vibrate at a specific frequency.
* Waves travel through mediums: Instead of vibrating at a specific frequency, mediums allow waves to propagate through them. The frequency of the wave is determined by the source of the vibration, not the medium itself.
How "fundamental frequency" applies to vibrating objects:
* The lowest frequency: When an object like a string or a column of air vibrates, it can vibrate at various frequencies. The fundamental frequency is the lowest possible frequency at which the object can vibrate stably. It's like the base note that a musical instrument produces.
* Harmonic series: Higher frequencies, called harmonics, are multiples of the fundamental frequency. This creates the rich sound of musical instruments.
Examples:
* Guitar string: The fundamental frequency of a guitar string depends on its length, tension, and mass per unit length.
* Organ pipe: The fundamental frequency of an organ pipe depends on its length and whether it's open or closed at one end.
In summary:
While a medium itself doesn't have a "fundamental frequency," the objects that vibrate within the medium do. The fundamental frequency of an object determines the lowest note it can produce and is the basis for understanding its harmonic series.
