Question

Speed of Sound Lab

Use the following data taken previously:

Data Page
Room Temperature, T c (Celsius) = 22 0
Theoretical Speed of Sound, v (m/s) = ____?____ Use Equation 2
Frequency of Sound Waves (tuning fork), f (Hz) = 512

First Resonance Point
Trial
1 17 cm
2 18 cm
3 17 cm

Now determine
Average = _____________
Wavelength, λ (m) = _____________ Use λ = 4L (First Resonance)
Experimental Speed of Sound (m/s) = _____________ Use Equation 1
Percent Error= _____________

You only complete Steps 1,2,3,4, and 5 described on Page 2.

Answer 1

The theoretical speed of sound can be found using the equation, vt = 331.4 + 0.6T

T = room temperature in celcius

=> vt = 331.4 + 0.6T = 331.4 + 0.6*22 = 344.6 m/s

The experimental spped of sound is found by equation,

ve = frequency * wavelength

=> average length, L = (17+18+17)/3 = 17.33 cm = 0.1733 m

ve = frequency * wavelength = 512 * (4*0.1733) = 354.9184 m/s

Percent error of vt and ve

error = |vt-ve| / vt *100

error = |344.6-354.9184| / 344.6 *100

percent error = 2.99%