PHYS 1400: PHYSICAL SCIENCE LABORATORY MANUAL

Lab 06: The Speed of Sound in Air

INTRODUCTION
It is possible to investigate sound waves by creating standing waves
in a column of air. If the air column is driven by a sound wave of
the right frequency, a standing wave will be produced in the
column which results in an audible tone. The process is closely
related to what happens in a wind instrument like a flute, clarinet,
trombone, or organ.
We will use a glass tube partially filled with water. The water level
represents a closed end of the air column, and can be varied in
order to adjust the length of the column. If we hold a vibrating
tuning fork over the column and vary the water level, we will hear a
louder sound whenever the column length is right for standing
waves at the frequency of the tuning fork.
The water line is always a node, having zero amplitude. When the
sound is the loudest, the amplitude of the wave is greatest at the
mouth of the tube. The actual position of the node will depend on
the wavelength, but the relative spacing of the resonances will
always be the same fraction of a wavelength, either ¼λ or ½λ.
OBJECTIVES
Always measure top to tape, tape to tape, tape to tape.
• Create a standing wave in an air column
• Observe the change in the wave pattern when the column length is
changed
• Use these observations to calculate the speed of sound
• Calculate the amount of error in an experimental value
• Evaluate the effect of a change in experimental technique on the
accuracy of your results
EQUIPMENT
• Thermometer
• Two tuning forks of known frequency
• Rubber strike plate
• Masking tape
• Glass column connected to a water reservoir
• Overflow pan
PROCEDURE
1. Work in groups of four; you will need that many people cooperating
simultaneously to use the apparatus correctly and record accurate
measurements.
2. Make sure that the column and stand are on the floor, in the overflow
pan.
3. Adjust the reservoir on the stand until it is at the top of the glass
column. Fill the reservoir until the water level in the column is within
about 10cm of the top (no need to measure, just eyeball it). This
should give you enough water to work with and avoid overflows.
4. Strike a known tuning fork on the rubber strike plate to make it
vibrate. Do not strike the fork against the glass tube or the lab table
or your lab partner's forehead. Hold the fork over the open end of the
glass tube.
5. Starting with the water in the tube at its highest level, gradually lower
the water level by lowering the reservoir. Use masking tape to mark
the water levels where the sound is loudest as you increase the length
of air in the column. Set your apparatus in the overflow pan, just in case.
6. You should have a long enough tube to hear three resonances with
each fork. However, the third resonance for the lower frequency fork is very difficult to hear. If you are not able to locate this
resonance, use the top two resonances which you have measured with greater confidence.

LAB : SPRING 2020

PHYS 1400: PHYSICAL SCIENCE LABORATORY MANUAL
7. The highest water level (shortest air column) is approximately (¼λ) below the top of the tube. Use the meter stick to measure this
distance (y1) from the top of the tube to the first tape mark.
8. The distance between successive resonances is (½λ). Measure the distances (y2 and y3) between successive resonances and record
them. Measure from tape to tape.
9. Repeat the measurements for the second tuning fork.
10. Make sure you remove every molecule of masking tape from the glass column before you leave.
DATA
If you have not already, make sure you have arranged your data into a neat table. Use the formulas provided in the example
table below to complete the calculations.

FREQUENCY y1 y2 y3 1 %
λ1 (m) λ2 (m) λ 3 (m) 𝜆-. (m) 𝑣-. 0 2 3
(HZ) (m) (m) (m) error

𝜆8 + 𝜆<
384 𝜆8 = 4𝑦8 𝜆< = 2𝑦< ———— 𝜆-. = 𝑣-. = 𝜆-. 𝑓
2
𝜆8 + 𝜆< + 𝜆?
512 𝜆8 = 4𝑦8 𝜆< = 2𝑦< 𝜆? = 2𝑦? 𝜆-. = 𝑣-. = 𝜆-. 𝑓
2

ANALYSIS
1. The speed of sound waves in gases depends on the type of gas and on the temperature. For air it is:
1
𝑣 = (331 + 0.6𝑇) 2

where T is the temperature in °C. Record the air temperature, and use it to predict the actual value for the speed of sound.
2. Calculate the average wavelength for each of the two tuning forks using the formulas given in the example table above.
3. Use the formula in the table above to calculate the average speed of sound for each of the two tuning forks, using the average value
for each wavelength.
4. Calculate the percent error for each of your average values:
𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑣 − 𝑣-.
%𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = H O × 100
𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑣
QUESTIONS
5. How do the average speeds compare the the theoretical value calculated? Are your values high or low? Are the errors in each value
similar? Is one value noticeably more accurate?
6. Why is it typically more accurate to calculate the speed using the higher frequency fork? There are several reasons, and you should be
able to think of at least two, even if your values don’t happen to match this trend.
7. You measured each resonance with respect to the previous one (tape−to−tape). If you measured each resonance with respect to the
top of the tube, would this increase or decrease your accuracy? Why? (Note that you would have to calculate the wavelength a little
differently, but it could be done.)
8. If the temperature in the room suddenly increased, what would happen to the speed of the wave? Does the wave frequency change?
How would this affect the wavelength?
9. Would you expect the speed of sound to be greater through air or water? Explain.
10. Suggest two ways to improve your measurements or your technique to achieve more accurate results. (Remember, accuracy is about
technique–your measuring tools are definitely precise enough!)

LAB : SPRING 2020