Science glossary film: Octave

The interval between one sound and another that has double the frequency. In western music, notes one octave apart are given the same name, giving a scale of seven notes from A to G, with every 8th note being an octave. In early chemistry, John Newlands observed that elements seemed to show repeating properties every eighth element, which he called his Law of Octaves.

In western music, notes one octave apart are given the same name, giving a scale of seven notes from A to G, with every 8th note being an octave. In early chemistry, John Newlands observed that elements seemed to show repeating properties every eighth element, which he called his Law of Octaves.