Physics 1051

Laboratory #3

Sound and Resonance

Sound Waves and Resonance

Physics 1051

Laboratory #3

Sound and Resonance

Contents
Part I: Objective
Part II: Introduction
The Nature of Sound
Fast Fourier Transform
Resonance in Open Tubes
End Correction for Real Tubes
Speed of Sound in Air
Part III: Apparatus and Setup
Apparatus
Microphone
Tuning Fork
LoggerPro

Part IV: The Experiment

Using the Equipment
Predictions
Determining the Speed of Sound
Part V: Summary

Physics 1051

Laboratory #3

Sound and Resonance

Part I: Objective
In this experiment, you will determine the speed of sound in air by
analyzing pressure vs time data collected with a microphone and
LoggerPro.
You will also use the relationship v

= f

and learn about harmonics.

In the above equation, v = speed of sound in air, f = frequency, and

= wavelength.

Physics 1051

Laboratory #3

Sound and Resonance

Part II: Introduction

The Nature of Sound
Sound waves are longitudinal waves. They can propagate in gases,
liquids and solids. Sound waves in air travel by the motions of the air
molecules as periodic variations in the air pressure with respect to time.
A sound wave in air creates regions of high pressure and regions low
pressure, as shown below. These regions correspond to the wave crests
and troughs, respectively. A sound wave of a single frequency is
depicted here. Notice that the pressure varies sinusoidally with
respect to time.

Physics 1051

Laboratory #3

Sound and Resonance

Part II: Introduction

Fast Fourier Transform
The FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) procedure decomposes a sound wave
(pressure versus time data) into its constituent frequencies.
Some sounds consist of only one note, such as the sound produced by a
tuning fork. In this case, the FFT of that sound wave would register a
single frequency, f, which corresponds to the frequency of that note as
shown below.

Physics 1051

Laboratory #3

Sound and Resonance

Part II: Introduction

Fast Fourier Transform
Some sounds consist of multiple frequencies some of which may be more
intense than others. In this case, the FFT procedure tells you which frequencies
the sound contains and the relative amplitudes of each.
Depicted below (left) is a seemingly complex sound wave, consisting of two
frequencies of different amplitudes, as well as some low intensity noise.
The plot below (right) is the FFT of the above sound wave showing the two
constituent frequencies.

Physics 1051

Laboratory #3

Sound and Resonance

Part II: Introduction

Resonance in Open Tubes
Standing waves may be excited in tubes open at both ends. The waves may be
excited by producing a sound at one end of the tube, by blowing across the open
end, for example.
The wave patterns are drawn here and the equations for the frequencies are given.

v
2L

n=1

f1 = 1

n=2

f2 = 2

v
2L

v
2L

2L and
The general relationships are: n =
n

n=3

f3 = 3

nv
.
fn =
2L

Physics 1051

Laboratory #3

Sound and Resonance

Part II
Resonance in Open Tubes
Normally, there are many standing waves excited at one time and multiple waves will
coexist in the tube.
A FFT of the standing wave pattern would show all frequencies present in the tube.

Physics 1051

Laboratory #3

Sound and Resonance

Part II: Introduction

End Correction for Real Tubes
A primary difference between real tubes and ideal tubes is that when standing
waves exist in real tubes, a portion of the wavelength actually protrudes a small
distance outside the tube.

La

This is an end correction and makes the tube appear longer than its actual
length La. The end correction for a tube of radius r, is given by Lec = 0.61r.
A tube of length La open at both ends will have an end correction for both of the
open ends so that the corrected length of the tube is L = La + 2Lec.
This (L= La + 2Lec) is the length you will use in all calculations.

Physics 1051

Laboratory #3

Sound and Resonance

Part II: Introduction

Speed of Sound in Air
The speed of sound in air depends on the ambient air temperature
according to
v = 331 m/s + (0.6 m/sC)TC
where TC is the air temperature in degrees Celsius.

Physics 1051

Laboratory #3

Sound and Resonance

Part III: Apparatus and Setup

Apparatus
Microphone
Tube
Tuning Fork
Mallet
Metre stick

Physics 1051

Laboratory #3

Sound and Resonance

Part III: Apparatus and Setup

Microphone
The ULI microphone is
shown in the photograph.
The active element
(transducer) is the 9 mm
diameter disk located on
one end of the plastic
case.
The cord should be
plugged into the CH1
socket on the LabPro.

Physics 1051

Laboratory #3

Sound and Resonance

Part III: Apparatus and Setup

Tuning Fork
Tuning forks emit a pure tone
when rung.
The frequency of the tone is
stamped on the tuning fork.
Be gentle with the tuning forks
and only strike them with the
mallet provided!

Physics 1051

Laboratory #3

Sound and Resonance

Part III: Apparatus and Setup

LoggerPro
Launch the LoggerPro program by clicking on the icon below.

It should open with two graphs:

! pressure versus time (spectrum)
! amplitude versus frequency (FFT).

Data will be collected once you click Collect.

To end the collection, click Stop.
To erase existing data and begin a new collection, click Collect again.

Physics 1051

Laboratory #3

Sound and Resonance

Lab Report
Lab Report 1: Write the objective of your experiment.
Lab Report 2: Write the relevant theory of this experiment.
Lab Report 3: List your apparatus and sketch your setup.

Physics 1051

Laboratory #3

Part IV:The Experiment

Using the Equipment
Goal:
In this part of the experiment, you will
investigate the sound made by a tuning
fork and the sound made by singing.
Use the tuning forks (only hit with the
mallet!) to produce sound.
Record the sound using the
microphone and LoggerPro.

Sound and Resonance

Physics 1051

Laboratory #3

Sound and Resonance

Part IV:The Experiment

Using the Equipment
To accurately read values from the graph, click on your graph to activate it,
then click Analyze then Examine.
The values corresponding to the position of the cursor will be displayed.

Lab Report 4:

Record the frequency (or frequencies) from your FFT

graph. Is this the expected result? Explain.

Trying singing or humming or whistling into the microphone.

Lab Report 5:

How are the results different from using the tuning

fork?
You may wish to include sketches of your graphs.

Physics 1051

Laboratory #3

Sound and Resonance

Part IV: The Experiment

Predictions
It will be useful to make some predictions for your data of sound in an open
tube.
Assume that the speed of sound in air is 343 m/s.
Record your measurements for tube length and tube diameter.
Calculate and record the values of end correction and corrected length
(see slide 9) .
Use the corrected length for all calculations.

Lab Report 6:

For your pipe, predict the frequencies for the first 5

harmonics. Show your workings and record your
results in a table.

Lab Report 7:

Sketch the predicted form for the FFT.

Physics 1051

Laboratory #3

Sound and Resonance

Part IV: The Experiment

Determining the speed of sound
Goal:

In this part of the experiment, you will investigate the resonances within a tube
open at both ends.

Using the tube and the other

apparatus, collect a set of data of
sound in the tube.
You may produce sound by blowing
gently across the top of the tube.

Lab Report 8:

Describe your method of collecting data for determining

the frequencies of the harmonics in the tube.
Record your results in a table.
Lab Report 9: How do the results from your graph compare to your
predicted results? Explain any differences.

Physics 1051

Laboratory #3

Sound and Resonance

Part IV
Determining the speed of sound
Open Graphical Analysis and plot the appropriate data.

You may display the regression line for this data set:
Click Analyze then Linear Fit.
Double click on the box that appears and check Show Uncertainty.
Format: Include a title and axes labels. Turn off connecting lines.
Print your graph.

Lab Report 10: Use your data to determine the speed of sound in air and
its uncertainty.
Lab Report 11: Compare your value of the speed of sound to the
theoretically predicted value calculated using the
temperature dependence.

Physics 1051

Laboratory #3

Sound and Resonance

Part V: Summary
Lab Report 12:

Outline briefly the steps of your experiment.

Lab Report 13:

List your experimental results and comment on

how they agreed with the expected results.

Lab Report 14:

List at least three sources of experimental

uncertainty and classify them as random or
systematic.

Physics 1051

Laboratory #3

Sound and Resonance

Wrap it Up!

Make sure that you have answered all the

Questions completely.
Be sure to include your printed graph.