PHY 107
PHY 106
LAB
THE SPEED OF SOUND IN AIR
Background:
Sound waves are longitudinal waves traveling through an elastic medium. The source of sound waves in
this lab is a vibrating tuning fork. If a vibrating tuning fork is held over the open end of a tube that has
one end closed, air waves will be sent down the column of air in the tube. The reflected waves will then
travel back up the tube. The waves sent out by the tuning fork and the reflected waves will
superimpose each other and form complex patterns called standing waves. When the two waves
reinforce each other, a louder sound will be produced, this phenomenon is called resonance.
Resonance Tube Apparatus:
See figure. A meterstick is mounted alongside the resonance tube, with the zero mark of its scale at the
top of the tube. The position of the water in the tube can be read on this scale. The reading gives the
length of the air column. The length of the vibrating column is the length between the top (open) end of
the resonance tube and its closed end (water level). The length of the air column is adjusted by
changing the water level by raising or lowering the water supply can.
PHY 106
Objective:
To find the experimental value of the frequency, simply read the number stamped on the tuning fork.
Then determine the wavelength of the resonating sound waves by using equation 3. Then the
experimental speed of sound can be determined from equation 1. The experimental value can then be
compared with the theoretical value found using equation 2.
Equations:
1. Fundamental equation of wave propagation: v f
2. Theoretical speed of sound in air: v 331.4 0.61t
3. Experimentally, the wavelength of the sound wave is equal to twice the difference between the
second and first resonance positions: 2( L2 L1 )
PHY 106
Procedure:
1. Measure the temperature of the room in degrees C. Record this value on your
data sheet. Use equation 2 to calculate the theoretical value for the speed of
sound at that temperature. Record this speed on your data sheet.
2. Hold a tuning fork marked 512 cycles/s about 2 cm above the resonance tube.
The fork should be held so that its prongs will vibrate vertically when struck with a
rubber mallet. Slide the water supply as far up as it can go. This will bring the
water level in the glass tube to its highest possible point. The water level in the
glass tube can be lowered by lowering the can.
3. Gently strike the end of the tuning fork with a rubber mallet. Slowly lower the
water level and listen for resonance to occur. At this point, the sound will be
quite loud, even though the sound of the tuning fork itself is barely audible.
When you find the approximate position of the first resonance point, adjust the
water level up and down until you find the exact position of the first resonance
point L1 (loudest sound).
4. Determine the first resonance position by reading the position of the top of the
water surface relative to your meterstick. Convert this reading to meters and
record on your data sheet.
5. Perform two additional trials to determine this position. Record these two
additional readings in meters and find the average of all three readings.
6. Repeat steps 3-5 to determine the second resonance position L2.
7. Record the frequency of the tuning fork on your data sheet.
8. Use equation 1 to find the experimental speed of sound. Record this value on
your data sheet.
9. Compare the theoretical value of the speed of sound v obtained in step 1 with
the experimental value found in step 8. Calculate the percentage error in your
experimental value of v and record this value on your data sheet.
PHY 106
DATA SHEET
THE SPEED OF SOUND IN AIR
Room air temperature=________°C
Frequency of fork f=_______________cycles/s
Trial First Resonance Second Resonance Wavelength λ (m)
Position L1 (m) Position L2 (m)
1
AVERAGE
Speed of Sound v (m/s)
Theoretical Experimental % Error
Questions:
1. Sketch the standing wave pattern for the fourth resonance positon.
2. Would the resonance positions be changes if a tuning fork of different frequency were used? Why?
3. Would the experimental value for the speed of sound be different if a tuning fork of different
frequency were used? Why?
4. Why does the speed of sound depend of air temperature?
5. Why is there more than one resonance point for a tuning fork of a given frequency?
