f = 1÷T

 

Or, in English, the frequency (in hertz) is equal to 1 divided by the time it takes to compete a cycle (in seconds). 

 

In this case, we're talking about the Earth. It takes one year to orbit the Sun, or 31,536,000 seconds.

 

So T = 31,536,000 seconds. And since f = 1/T, then f = 3.17 x 10^-8, or 0.0000000317 hertz. 

 

This value has the same frequency as the note of C#, but well below our range of hearing. In order to experience it auditorily, we must raise it to an octave that our ears can perceive. Each octave increases the frequency by a factor of 2, and we must do this 32 times to hear this in our middle range.

 

 f (middle C#) = f (Earth-year) x 2^32 = (3.17x10^-8) x 2^32 = 136 hertz

 

This C# is a half step below middle C on the musical scale. The note A (above middle C) = 432 hertz. For concert tuning, A = 440 hz. My handpan uses the American standard concert tuning. Its deep center note (called the ding) is tuned to C# at 138 hz, and it has an extended C# major handpan scale called "Ysha Savita." You can see the frequency of each note on the handpan here.

 

 

 

So what does this all mean to us?

 

   (to be continued)