Online Lab: Resonance of Sound

Name: Esteban Escalante Cordoba, Manuela Castro Cardona, Juan Camilo Aguirre Bonilla

Date: 8/11/2021

Instructor: Henry Riascos Landázuri

Objective:
Determine the resonant frequencies of a closed and open ended pipe exposed to sound waves.
Verify the relationship between the frequency of the sound (f), the speed of sound in air (v) and
the length of the Tube (L) changed by clicking on the Tube itself.

Apparatus:
A frequency generator, with digital readout and which was also used to produce standing waves
on a string, will be used to drive a small speaker and generate sound waves of a given
frequency. The sound waves enter a tube filled with air, which can be either open (cap
removed) or closed (cap on). The length of the pipe (L) can be varied by moving an insert back
and forth.

Resonance in an open tube – i.e., a tube that is open at both

ends
Sound from the sound source (speaker) travels down the tube and reflects back from the
opposite end which is open. At resonance, both ends must be points of maximum disturbance
called antinodes (A). There must be at least one point of minimum disturbance between
antinodes, called a node (N), and hence the distance between the ends of the tube bust be at
least λ/2. But there might be two, three, or more nodes between the ends of the tube. The first
four resonant conditions for an open tube of length L are shown in Figure 1. The resonance
conditions are also summarized.

Figure 1: Lowest four resonant frequencies for an open pipe.

Developed by Melissa Butner, ETSU 1
The pattern is clear. The possible resonant frequencies of an open tube of length L are:

2L, where f1 =vs

where n = 1, 2, 3, 4 . . . (all integers).

fn = nvs

2L(1)

Resonance in a closed tube – i.e., a tube open at one end and

closed at the other
Sound from the source travels down the tube and reflects back from the opposite end, but in this
case the opposite end is closed. At resonance, the closed end of the tube must be a point of
minimum disturbance (i.e., a node (N) whereas the other end, near the sound source, must be
an antinode (A). The minimum part of a wavelength between an antinode A and a node N is a
quarter wavelength, and hence the length of the tube must correspond to λ/4 for the lowest
resonant frequency. The four lowest resonant frequencies for a tube of length L are shown in
Figure 2, along with the conditions for resonance.

Figure 2: Lowest four resonant frequencies for a closed pipe of fixed length.

Once again, the pattern is clear. The possible resonant frequencies of a closed tube of length L
are: given by:
4L, where f1 =vs
fn = nvs where n = 1, 3, 5, 7 . . . (all odd integers)4L(2)

A sound wave is a longitudinal wave, where the oscillation is along ( or opposite to) the direction
of propagation i.e speed. This does not change any of the equations used before. If the sound
generated by the speaker corresponds to a frequency f, then this results in a traveling wave with
wavelength: λ = vs/f. For a given frequency the wavelength depends on the speed of
propagation vs. This speed depends on the medium through which the wave travels. For
example the speed of sound in air is vs=343 m/s at room temperature. But in helium the speed
of sound is much larger and is vs=965 m/s. So a sound wave of a given frequency will have
different wavelengths in air and in helium.
Developed by Melissa Butner, ETSU 2

Figure 3: Initial

screen after clicking HTML link to open Resonance Tube Simulator Website

Figure 4: Initial Configuration after opening the Resonance Tube Lab Simulator

Developed by Melissa Butner, ETSU 3

Online Resonance of Sound Experiment Instructions:
1. Go to the following website:
http://www.thephysicsaviary.com/Physics/Programs/Labs/ResonanceTubeLab/ 2. Figure 3
shows an example of what you should see on your screen.
 3. Press the Begin Button on the “Resonance Tube Lab“ simulation to open the simulator. 4.
Figure 4 shows an example of what you should see on your screen.

5. Description of the Buttons used during the Experiment is given below:

(a) When the program is loaded, there a 5 RANDOM LENGTH Tubes generated. (b)
Click to turn the ruler on to measure the length of the Tube.

(c) Button on the Left side of the Tube when selected, the cap will be
taken off and the Tube is Open on both ends.

(d) Button on the Left side of the Tube when selected, the cap will be placed at
the end of the Tube and the Tube is Closed at one end.

(e) Button on the frequency generator is used to search for Resonant

Frequencies in the tube.

(f) Range Selection switch points to the 75 Hz - 250 Hz Range when facing Left
or points to the 250 Hz - 1000 Hz when facing Right.

(g) The Length of the Tube can be changed at

any time by simply clicking on the tube itself.

NOTE: RECORD NA (for Not Available in the given Range) in the blank for any frequency
that is not found within the range of 75 Hz - 1000 Hz.

Developed by Melissa Butner, ETSU 4

Resonant Frequencies of a Closed Tube: L = ∼55 cm
1. SET the length of the tube as close to 55 cm as possible.
Record the actual Length of the Tube here. L1 =55cm
2. Press the Cap End Button on the Left side of the Tube. (Close Tube Configuration)
3. Calculate the first 4 Resonant Frequencies, fn for a Closed Tube using Equation 2. Record
your calculated values in the Table on the Left Side below (Calculated Closed Tube).
 4. Click SCAN. It will stop scanning when the first frequency of a is reached f1. If a
frequency is NOT found in the given range, Record NA
Record the first frequency of a Closed Tube. f1 =154.8

5. Click SCAN. Record the third frequency of a closed Tube. f3 =773

6. Click SCAN. Record the fifth frequency of a closed Tube. f5 = NA

7. Click SCAN. Record the seventh frequency of a closed Tube. f7 = NA

Resonant Frequencies of an Open Tube: L = ∼55 cm

1. Press the Remove Cap Button on the Left side of the Tube to remove the cap.
2. Calculate the first 4 Resonant Frequencies, fn for an Open Tube using Equation 1. Record
your calculated values in the Table on the Right Side below (Calculated Open Tube).

3. Click SCAN. It will stop scanning when the first frequency of an is reached f1.
Record the first frequency of an Open Tube. f1 = 310

4. Click SCAN. Record the frequency of an Open Tube. f2 = 619

5. Click SCAN. Record the third frequency of an Open Tube. f3 = 929

Table 1: Resonant Frequency of an Open and Closed Tube at L = ∼55 cm

Calculated Closed Tube Calculated Open Tube

Harmonic frequency, Harmonic frequency,

(Number) fn (Hz) (Number) fn (Hz)

n=1 155.90 n=1 311.81

n=3 467.72 n=2 623.63

n=5 779.54 n=3 935.45

n=7 1091.36 n=4 1247.27

Developed by Melissa Butner, ETSU 5

Resonant Frequencies of a Closed Tube: L = ∼80 cm
1. SET the length of the tube as close to 80 cm as possible.
Record the actual Length of the Tube here. L2 =80 cm
2. Press the Cap End Button on the Left side of the Tube. (Close Tube Configuration)
3. Calculate the first 4 Resonant Frequencies, fn for a Closed Tube using Equation 2. Record
your calculated values in the Table on the Left Side below (Calculated Closed Tube).
 4. Click SCAN. It will stop scanning when the first frequency of a is reached f1.
Record the first frequency of a Closed Tube. f1 = 107.4

5. Click SCAN. Record the third frequency of a closed Tube. f3 =536

6. Click SCAN. Record the fifth frequency of a closed Tube. f5 = 965

7. Click SCAN. Record the seventh frequency of a closed Tube. f7 = NA

Resonant Frequencies of an Open Tube: L = ∼80 cm 1.

Press the Remove Cap Button on the Left side of the Tube to remove the cap.
2. Calculate the first 4 Resonant Frequencies, fn for an Open Tube using Equation 1. Record
your calculated values in the Table on the Right Side below (Calculated Open Tube).

3. Click SCAN. It will stop scanning when the first frequency of an is reached f1.
Record the first frequency of an Open Tube. f1 = 214.8

4. Click SCAN. Record the second frequency of an Open Tube. f2 = 430

5. Click SCAN. Record the third frequency of an Open Tube. f3 = 644

6. Click SCAN. Record the fourth frequency of an Open Tube. f4 = 859

Table 2: Resonant Frequency of an Open and Closed Tube at L = ∼80 cm

Calculated Closed Tube Calculated Open Tube

Harmonic frequency, Harmonic frequency,

(Number) fn (Hz) (Number) fn (Hz)

n=1 107.18 n=1 214.37

n=3 321.56 n=2 428.75

n=5 535.93 n=3 643.12

n=4 857.50
n=7 750.31

Developed by Melissa Butner, ETSU 6

Analysis of a Closed Tube: L1 = ∼55 cm

1. RECORD the results of your analysis in (m) for the wavelength and (m/s) for the speed.

2. Calculate λ1, λ3, and λ5 of a Closed Tube and your measured L1 value. λn

4L
= n, for n = 1, 3, 5, 7, ... (Closed Pipe)

λ1 = 2.2
 λ3 = 0.733
λ5 = 0.44
3. Find the speed of sound, vs for First 3 Resonant Frequencies ONLY using your measured
fn values in Table 1 and the λn values above.

vs = f1 × λ1 = 340.56
vs = f3 × λ3 = 566.86
vs = f5 × λ5 = NA

Analysis of a Closed Tube: L2 = ∼80 cm

1. RECORD the results of your analysis in (m) for the wavelength and (m/s) for the speed.

2. Calculate λ1, λ3, and λ5 of a Closed Tube and your measured L2 value.

λ1 = 3.2
λ3 = 1.06
λ5 = 0.64
3. Find the speed of sound, vs for First 3 Resonant Frequencies ONLY using your measured
fn values and the λn values above.

vs = f1 × λ1 = 343.68
vs = f3 × λ3 = 571.73
vs = f5 × λ5 = 617.6

Developed by Melissa Butner, ETSU 7

Analysis of an Open Tube: L1 = ∼55 cm

1. RECORD the results of your analysis in (m) for the wavelength and (m/s) for the speed.

2. Calculate λ1, λ2, and λ3 of an Open Tube and your measured L1 value. λn

2L
= n, for n = 1, 2, 3, 4, ... (Open Pipe)

λ1 = 1.1
λ2 = 0.36
λ3 = 0.22
 3. Find the speed of sound, vs for First 3 Resonant Frequencies ONLY using your measured
fn values in Table 1 and the λn values above.

vs = f1 × λ1 = 341
vs = f2 × λ2 = 340.45
vs = f3 × λ3 = 340.63

Analysis of an Open Tube: L2 = ∼80 cm

1. RECORD the results of your analysis in (m) for the wavelength and (m/s) for the speed.

2. Calculate λ1, λ2, and λ3 of an Open Tube and your measured L2 value.

λ1 = 1.6
λ2 = 0.8
λ3 = 0.53
3. Find the speed of sound, vs for First 3 Resonant Frequencies ONLY using your measured
fn values and the λn values above.

vs = f1 × λ1 = 342.99
vs = f2 × λ2 = 343
vs = f3 × λ3 = 342.99

Developed by Melissa Butner, ETSU 8

Conclusions:
1. Discuss how well your measured fn values compare to your calculated fn values?
 2. Discuss how well do your measured vn values compare to the accepted vs values?
Recall that the speed of sound in air is vs=343 m/s at room temperature

3. How does the velocity, wavelength and frequency change as the length of the
tube is varied?

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