Erik Martinez

Speed of Sound Lab

Procedure/Purpose: In this lab we are finding the speed of sound. The speed of sound is determined using water, a resonance tube, a cylinder, and a variety of tuning forks Data/Observations: A B Frequenc Air y of fork Colum n Length 512 .156m 320 .256m 384 .213m 256 .324m 288 .286m SampleCalculations: S.O.S.=322m/s+(Tx.6m/s/C) =322m/s+(23.3Cx .6m/s/C) =345.98m/s Percent error=[(Actual value-calculated value)/Actual value]x 100% =[(345.98-346.52)/345.98]x 100% =0.2% Corrected air column length=B+C =.156m+.0132m =.1692m Wavelength=4xD =4x .1692 =.6768m Calculated speed of sound=AxF C Correctio n for Diameter .0132 .0132 .0132 .0132 .0132 D=B+C Correcte d Air Column length .1692 .2692 .2262 .3372 .2992 F=4*D Waveleng th G=A*F Calculate Temperatu d speed re in of sound Celsius 346.52 344.576 347.443 345.29 344.678 23.3 23.7 23.3 23.3 23.3 Acceptse % d speed erro of sound r 345.98 346.22 345.98 345.98 345.98 .2% .4% .4% .2% .2%

.6768 1.0768 .9048 1.3488 1.1968

Erik Martinez

=512x .6768m =346.52 m/s Questions/Analysis: 1).If the lab was performed in a deep mineshaft we would result in higher speed due to the increase of pressure, we would also see an increase in speed due to the moisture in the air, and finally see an increase due to the lower temperature. 2).it is important for the water in the graduated cylinder to be very near the same temperature because if they were both different temperatures then our Accepted value would be wrong based of the fact of us using the temperature of the air while in our calculated values wed be using the temperature of the water resulting in greater differences. 3).