Example Problem #1a

Find the speed of sound in air at: a) 23.0 oC

The only thing that you are given is the air temperature.

Given:
air temp = 23.0 o C

The formula used is as follows:

[ the o C on the top and the o C on the bottom cancel and leave only m/s. ]

vof sound = 331.4 m/s + 13.8 m/s

vof sound = 345.2 m/s

4 sig figs in part a) answer even though only three sig figs in air temp given.

This is a case of multiplication/division combined with addition/subtraction.

Example Problem #1b

Find the speed of sound in air at: b) 23 oC

The only thing that you are given is the air temperature.

Given:
air temp = 23 o C

The formula used is as follows:

[ the o C on the top and the o C on the bottom cancel and leave only m/s. ]

vof sound = 331.4 m/s + 13.8 m/s

( the 13.8 m/s must be rounded to only 2 sig figs before addition step )

vof sound = 331.4 m/s + 14 m/s

vof sound = 345.4 m/s

vof sound = 345 m/s

3 sig figs in part b) answer even though only two sig figs in air temp given.

This is a case of multiplication/division combined with addition/subtraction

Example Problem #2

A1 B1 C1 D1 E1 F1 G1 A2 B2 C2 D2 E2 F2

Using the above, if F1 = 360 Hz, find B2 .

Counting F1 , B2 is four notes away. This is called a "fourth" so the ratio we'll use is 4:3.
See: Scale numerical ratios

Since B2 is higher up the scale then F1 (frequency gets higher as you move from left to right)
,then we need to multiply in a way to get abigger number for B2 than we have for F1. This means
putting the larger number in the ratio on the top of the fraction. (fractions are ratios) Ifyou were
doing a problem where you were asked to find a note lower on the scale, you'd put
the smaller number in the given ratio on top.

So:

F1 = 360 Hz
B2 = ?
ratio = 4:3 or

B2 = F1. 4
3
B2 = 360 Hz . 4
3
B2 = 480 Hz

3 sig figs in answer because the only given (F1 = 360 Hz) had 3 sig figs.
Both the top and the bottom of the ratio are exact values.

Example Problem #3

A car approaching at 22.2 m/s blows it's horn at a dog sitting on the road.
If the frequency of the horn is 437.9 Hz and the speed of sound is 337 m/s,
what frequency will the dog hear?

The formula for this problem is:

fobserved = fsource [ vsound + vobserver ] When moving towards the sound.

[ vsound - vsource ] (Draw a line under top bracket to show division by
bottom bracket)

Given:

fsource = 437.9 Hz
vsource = 22.2 m/s
vsound = 337 m/s
vobserver = 0 m/s (dog is sitting still)
fobserved = ?

Substitute the given values directly in formula.

fobserved = 437.9 Hz [ 337 m/s + 0 m/s ]

[ 337 m/s - 22.2 m/s ] (Draw a line under top bracket to show
division by bottom bracket)

fobserved = 437.9 Hz [ 337 m/s ]

[ 312 m/s ] (Draw a line under top bracket to show division by
bottom bracket)

Notice how the bottom bracket has a rounded off answer. It is because the operation in the
bottom bracket was addition and the next step using that result will be division. This means we
round off before changing from one operation to the other.
See: Sig Fig Rules

fobserved = ( 437.9 Hz ) 1.0698413

fobserved = ( 468.48349 Hz )

fobserved = 468 Hz

3 sig figs in answer because the top and bottom bracket

have only three after add / subtract step.

Example Problem #4a

How does a 90 dB sound compare to a 70 dB sound?

Subtract the quieter (smaller number) sound from the louder (larger number) sound
measurement.

90 dB - 70 dB = 20 dB

A 20 dB difference = 10 2 = 10 x 10 = 100 times.

(The tens digit, in red, determines the exponent for the number of times more or less sound
pressure.)

ANSWER: 90 dB is 100 times more sound pressure than 70 dB.

Example Problem #4b

How does a 50 dB sound compare to a 80 dB sound?

Subtract the quieter (smaller number) sound from the louder (larger number) sound
measurement.

80 dB - 50 dB = 30 dB

A 30 dB difference = 10 3 = 10 x 10 x 10 = 1 000 times.

(The tens digit, in red, determines the exponent for the number of times more or less sound
pressure.)

ANSWER: 50 dB is 1 000 times less sound pressure than 80 dB.

Example Problem #5

At 10 oC, how far away is a reflecting surface if you hear an echo in 0.274 s?

You are given the temperature and the time. With the temperature you can calculate
the velocity.

Given:

temperature = 10 oC

t = 0.274 s

D=?

Two formulae are necessary for this problem:

D=Vt

Substitute the temperature into the first equation.

[ the o C on the top and the o C on the bottom cancel and leave only m/s. ]

vof sound = 331.4 m/s + 6.0 m/s

vof sound = 337.4 m/s

vof sound has 4 sig figs when used in the second equation.

This was a case of multiplication/division combined with addition/subtraction.

See: Sig Fig Rules

Now you can substitute directly into the second formula.

D = ( 337.4 m/s ) 0.274 s

D = 92.4476 m
This is the total distance for the round trip.
The question asked for the distance one way only.

distance to reflecting surface = ( round trip distance ) divided by 2 = ( 92.4476 m ) divide 2

D = 46.2238 m

D = 46.2 m

3 sig figs in answer because t only had 3 sig figs and the mathematical function used in this
formula was multiplying/dividing.

Example Problem #6

Find the beat frequency when a 386 Hz and a 389 Hz tuning fork
are struck at the same time.

Given:

f1 = 386 Hz
f2 = 389 Hz
fbeat = ? Hz

The formula used in this problem is:

Substitute the given measurements.

fbeat = 3 Hz

So the beat frequency is 3 beats per second.

Example Problem #7

What is the fundamental frequency (1st harmonic) in an open pipe

that is 157 cm long when v = 342 m/s?

You are given pipe length = 157 cm and v = 342 m/s and that it is an open pipe.

Given:

open pipe length = 157 cm = 1.57 m

v = 342 m/s
f fundamental = ?

To do this problem we need to know that open pipes resonate at even quarters of a
wavelength

( 2  / 4 , 4  / 4 , 6  / 4 , 8  / 4 , 10  / 4 , etc. )

Two formulae are necessary:

open pipe length = ( 2  / 4 or 4  / 4 or 6  / 4 or 8  / 4 or 10  / 4 , etc. )

and v=f

Using the first formula you are able to calculate  with the pipe length
but you must know which fraction to choose.

In this example, we choose the first fraction listed because

we want to find the fundamental or 1 st harmonic.

Use the formula:

open pipe length = 2 

4

The fundamental (or lowest) harmonic frequency that will resonate is the first (or lowest)
fraction.
(If it had asked for the second harmonic frequency you would have chosen the second fraction
4  / 4 .)
(If it had asked for the third harmonic frequency you would have chosen the third fraction 6  / 4
.)
(If it had asked for the fourth harmonic frequency you would have chosen the fourth fraction
8  / 4 .)
etc.
Re-arrange this formula so that:

 = 4 open pipe length

2

Substitute your pipe length listed above.

 = 4 ( 1.57 m )
2

 = 3.14 m

Next rearrange the second formula v = f  so that:

f=v


Substitute your calculated value for  and your given value for v and calculate a value for f.
This is the fundamental harmonic frequency for that length of open pipe.

f = 342 m/s
3.14 m

f = 108.9172 Hz

f = 109 Hz

3 sig figs in answer because both given values had 3 sig figs and
all mathematical operations were multiplying and dividing.

Example Problem #8

What is the 2 nd harmonic frequency in a closed pipe

that is 67 cm long when v = 338 m/s?

You are given pipe length = 67 cm and v = 338 m/s and that it is a closed pipe.

Given:

closed pipe length = 67 cm = 0.67 m

v = 338 m/s
f 2nd harmonic = ?
To do this problem we need to know that closed pipes resonate at odd quarters of a
wavelength

( 1  / 4 , 3  / 4 , 5  / 4 , 7  / 4 , 9  / 4 , etc. )

Two formulae are necessary:

closed pipe length = ( 1  / 4 or 3  / 4 or 5  / 4 or 7  / 4 or etc. )

and v=f

Using the first formula you are able to calculate  with the pipe length
but you must know which fraction to choose.

In this example, we choose the second fraction listed because

we want to find the 2 nd harmonic.

Use the formula:

closed pipe length = 3 

4

The second harmonic frequency that will resonate is the second fraction.
(If it had asked for the third harmonic frequency you would have chosen the third fraction 5  / 4
.)
(If it had asked for the fourth harmonic frequency you would have chosen the fourth fraction
7  / 4 .)
(If it had asked for the fifth harmonic frequency you would have chosen the fifth fraction 9  / 4
.)
etc.

Re-arrange this formula so that:

 = 4 closed pipe length

3

Substitute your pipe length listed above.

 = 4 ( 0.67 m )
3

 = 0.89333333 m

Next rearrange the second formula v = f  so that:

f=v


Substitute your calculated value for  and your given value for v and calculate a value for f.
This is the second harmonic frequency for that length of closed pipe.

f= 338 m/s
0.89333333 m

f = 378.35822 Hz

f = 3.8 x 10 2 Hz

2 sig figs in answer because one of the given measurements had only
2 sig figs and all mathematical operations were multiplying and dividing.