Year 11 Physics – Lab Validation

Using Resonance to Determine the Speed of Sound

Name: Score: / 32 %

Background:
Sound waves propagated down a tube are reflected at the closed end and a standing wave is produced. The air is at
rest at the closed end, which is therefore a displacement node.

The anti-node is actually a short distance “e” beyond the end of the tube, thus:

λ
L+e=
4

Where L is the length of tube (m)

λ is the wavelength (m)
e is the end correction factor (m)

Method:
In an experiment to determine the speed of sound, a student
created a closed pipe of various lengths by filling a tube with
different amounts of water, as shown in the diagram.

The length of the tube was set at a number of different values

which were recorded in the table of results on the following page.

A small loudspeaker attached to a signal generator was set up

just above the tube so that a sound was played into the tube.
The frequency of the sound was slowly adjusted until resonance
was heard and this value was also recorded in the table of results.

This was then repeated for the other lengths of tube.

Question 1 (8 marks; 1, 2, 1, 4)
a Rearrange the equation given in the background so that it shows the relationship between the independent
variable L and the other variables in the form L = ____

b Substitute λ using the wave equation

c Considering the method provided and the equation from (b), assign the three remaining variables into the
table below

Dependent Controlled
 d Your equation from (b) should be rewritten into the form y=mx+c .
 Usually the y-axis plots the dependent variable, but for simplicity we’ll use the independent variable L
 The m and c parts can only include controlled variables, though they may occur in either/both
 The x part should only include the dependent variable, but it can be in other forms
2 1
(e.g. in another scenario, the dependent variable, z, could be in the form z ,sin z ,∨
)
z
Use the box provided to rewrite your equation, clearly showing separate elements of y=mx+c .

y ¿ m x +¿ c

¿ +¿

Question 2 (13 marks; 3, 4, 4, 2)

The results table is below, neither column can be graphed as it’s written
Length of Tube Frequency at which
Length ( )
(cm) Resonance Heard (Hz)

14.0 513

19.0 408

25.0 307

30.0 263

32.5 756

35.0 235

40.0 200

45.0 187
a Column 1 must be converted to SI units. Complete the heading for column 3 and fill in the column.

b In order to produce a straight line and utilise y=mx+c the frequency must also be manipulated. Complete
the heading for column 4 and fill in the column.

c Plot the graph on the graph paper provided.

d One of the data points does not appear to follow the trend and can be considered an outlier.
Circle this data point on the graph and give a possible explanation for why this error occurred.

Question 3 (6 marks)
Utilising your straight-line graph from 2(c) and the equation written in 1(d) you can determine both v and e.
Demonstrate how to do so, either on the graph or below, and determine the values.

Question 4 (5 marks; 2, 2, 1)
a Provide a variable which affects the speed of sound and state how it might have been controlled in the
experiment.

b What specific effect might not controlling this variable have had on the results?

c Suggest one way that the results of this experiment could be made more reliable.

END OF QUESTIONS