Ohm’s mathematical error inflated the siren’s fundamental partial strength.

Evidence

Ohm needed to explain why a siren with all its partials, many much stronger than the 100 Hz fundamental, should have a 100 Hz pitch if 100 holes were passing by the source of air per second. In fact, the lowest partial in a siren is usually quite weak. Conveniently for his prejudices, in the course of his lengthy and rather overly formal analysis Ohm made a mathematical blunder, which caused him to tremendously exaggerate the strength of the fundamental partial a1 when the siren is emitting a sound with pitch f—that is, when f holes per second are being exposed to the air hose. Seebeck pointed out the mathematical error in a paper about his own experiments and theory concerning the operation of the siren. Apparently, Ohm was deeply embarrassed; his overly formal paper seemed hollow in the face of such a mistake. Ohm got out of the field of acoustics altogether, but it turned out he had underestimated his own contributions. — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 2055

Categorization

Category: Factual Claims

• CANDY: A great scientist so embarrassed by a math error he left acoustics entirely — irresistible dinner-table fact.
• SHARE: For anyone interested in how prestige and embarrassment shape scientific progress — Ohm fleeing the field after Seebeck caught his blunder.

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