Experiment No.

6 (Resonance: Speed of Sound) Abstract: Sound is a mechanical wave produced by a force and propagated through a medium from one place to another. In this particular experiment, a fluid medium was used to determine the measure of the speed of sound. The procedures of the experiment are as follows: First, a tuning fork was vibrated using a rubber mallet. It was then placed in a graduated cylinder which is partially filled with water. The amount of water was critical in determining the speed of sound because too much or too low of a water level will not produce a sound. Finally, the speed to sound obtained in this experiment was then compared to the actual speed of sound (computed) which is 346.0 m/s. Question & Answer: 1. Through what fraction of a vibration has the prong of a tuning fork moved while the sound travelled down to the water surface inside the pipe and reflected back up to the fork again? The sound wave travelled of a wave down and of a wave up. Therefore, the tuning fork vibrated of a cycle. 2. What is the approximate wavelength of the fundamental frequency of a closed tube 35.0 cm long if the tube has a diameter of 4.000 cm? FORMULA: = 4[L + 0.3 D]

= 4[35.0 + 0.3 (4.000)] = 4[35.0 + 1.200] = 4[36.2] = 144 cm

3. A tuning fork of frequency 384 Hz exhibits resonance with a closed tube 20.0 cm long and 4.000 cm in diameter. What is the speed of the sound wave? Use the formula: = 4 [L + 0.3 D], to get .

= 4 [20.0 + 0.3 (4.000)] = 4 [20.0 + 1.200] = 4 [21] = 84 cm Then, use the formula: V = f to get the speed of sound.
100

V = 84 cm (384 Hz) 100 V = 320 m/s