Resonance and Speed of Sound

Alec Callao, Thryssa Cardenas, Genevieve Mae G. Cheung, Michael G. Cuevas, Lovely Fe L. Cuison, and Elijin Dai Group 2 2F Pharmacy Physics Laboratory
ABSTRACT Sound is a wave created by vibrating objects which travels through a medium and moves from one location to another. It can be determined by resonance or the loudness, clarity, and depth of sound for a period of time. In the experiment, the speed of sound was determined and the results were compared to a standard value. Also, several factors, such as temperature and distance, which affect the speed of sound, were tested to see the variations they could do with regards to the speed of sound.

INTRODUCTION
Terms such as wavelength and frequency are always associated with the speed of sound. Wavelength is a sinusoidal wave represented by the symbol lambda (). It is the distance between identical points in the wave. Frequency, on the other hand, is the number of vibrations per unit of time and is labeled as hertz. Sound could travel through a tube with both ends open or only one end is open. These tubes could either be an open tube or a closed tube respectively. In the performed experiment, a closed tube was utilized and the frequency was determined through a tuning fork. EXPERIMENTAL
The height and diameter of an empty graduated cylinder were measured with a meter stick and a vernier caliper respectively. The graduated cylinder was filled with a random amount of water then tuning fork was tapped and put above the mouth of the graduated cylinder. Addition or removal of water from the cylinder was done until sound is heard. Once sound was produced, the level of water was measured. This will be subtracted from the height of the graduated cylinder measured beforehand to determine the length of the tube to be used in the computation of the speed of sound. The experimental value of the speed of sound is obtained through the formula s=f where =4(L+ .3d); d is the diameter of the cylinder and the frequency is a constant inscribed on the tuning fork used. The standard value was computed by getting the temperature inside the tube. At 0oC, the speed of sound is 331m/s. Every time the temperature is increased by 1 oC, the speed of sound also increased by .6m/s. Thus, the temperature obtained from the tube is substituted in the formula, s=331m/s + .6m/s (oC); oC is the obtained temperature. With the computed standard and experimental value, we could get the absolute error and relative error of the experiment. The Absolute error (AE) is the discrepancy between the standard value (SE) and experimental value (EV). Thus, it can be solved by AE=|SV-EV|. On the other hand, the relative error (RE) determines the precision of the experiment relative to the value being measured. It can be computed by RE= (AE/SV)x100.

QUESTIONS 1. What is the approximate wavelength of the fundamental frequency of a closed tube 35.0cm long if the tube has a diameter of 4.000cm? 2. A tuning fork of frequency 384Hz exhibits resonance with a closed tube 20.0cm long and 4.000cm in diameter. What is speed of the sound wave? ANSWERS 1. Given: L= 35.0cm d= 4.000cm =? Equation: =4(L+.3d) Solution: =4(35.0+.3[4.000]) =4(35.0+1.200) =4(36.2) =145cm 2. Given: f= 384Hz L= 20.0cm d= 4.000cm s=? Equation: s=f[4(L+.3d)]

Solution: s=384{4(20.0+.3[4.000])} s=384[4(20.0+1.200)] s=384[4(21.2)] s=384(84.8) s= 32,600cm/s

CONCLUSION Sound travels faster in a location with high temperature. This is because air molecules in a hot area move fast thus the propagation of sound also fast. So as we increase the temperature, the speed of sound also increases. Another factor that affects sound is the distance it travels from one body to another. In the experiment, the length of the tube was modified by adding or removing water in the graduated cylinder in order to produce sound. The higher the frequency of the tuning fork used in the experiment, the smaller the length of the tube. The tubes length is directly related to the wavelength as shown in the computations above. Thus, we can say that frequency is indirectly proportional to the wavelength.