Physics Lab

Introduction
    Sound waves, like all wave, can be reflected. In this lab you will be creating a single frequency sound wave that will travel through a tube and bounce of the surface of water. As the waves reflect a resonance pattern will be heard as the amplitude of the sound increases at it anitnodes. Using the equation:
                                                         v  =  f l
you will be able to determine the speed of sound. (Remember this is a closed pipe, so what is the distance from the water to the first loudest peak?

Materials:   graduated cylinder, pvc pipe,water, 5 tuning forks, and a meter stick

Procedures

1. Select ONE tuning fork and record its frequency.

2. Fill a large graduated cylinder as full as possible but make sure it will not overflow when you place the pipe inside. Place the pipe inside the water.

2. Hit the fork on a "soft" surface (such as the bottom of your shoe) and place the fork over the tube in the water. The fork an tube must remain close together along with your ear.

3. Listen carefully for the FIRST antinode by moving the tube, fork, and your ear up and down. Record the length of thhe tube from the surface of the water to the top of the tube. Calculate the wavelength  and speed of sound and record these values as well. (Make sure your value is near the accepted value or you may be listening to the wrong antinode)

4. Repeat for a total of 3 trials.

5. Repeat with 4 other tuning forks.

Analysis

1. Calculate the % error for the speed of sound using your average of all 5 forks. What are some sources of error?

2. Explain how this value would differ for different media and conditions (eg. solids, liquids, hot, humid)