Experiment 7: Velocity of Sound

Laboratory Report

Dana Young, Dana Yu, Ray Allen Zafra*, Lloyd Pineda

Department of Math and Physics

College of Science, University of Santo Tomas
Espaa, Manila Philippines

Abstract Sound is defined as a

mechanical, longitudinal wave made
The velocity of sound in this
through object vibration from
experiment was determined by three
equilibrium that promulgates through
activities: air column resonation, speed of
a certain medium, be it solid, liquid or
sound and speed of sound in a solid. In the
even gas, from one location to
air column resonation activity, the students
another. Specific and certain factors
computed the aerial speed of sound bu
compose sound. The speed of sound
utilizing the formula V = 331+0.6t where t
pertains to the speed at which sound
refers to the temperature. Second is through
waves propagate and traverse through
the use of a computer, the group calculated
materials. On the other hand,
the speed of sound through the division of the
wavelength () refers to the overall
tube length by of the time interval. Finally,
distance between the adjacent
the theoretical speed of sound in solid was
maxima/crest and minima/trough.
computed by VR= square root of Y/p where Y
Frequency is then defined as the
is the Young's modulus and p is the density of
number of cycles per unit time while
the rod. Subsequently, the percent error was
resonance is the tendency of one
computed and obtained from the three
system to fluctuate with greater
activities.
amplitude at some frequencies than at
others.

1. Introduction
 change when reflected from a fixed end.
Longitudinal waves are those wherein the
2. Theory
particle motions are made of the fluctuations
Sound is considered a wave, both in
with reference to the promulgation direction.
the mechanical and longitudinal nature.
Means of air propagation is associated with
Vibration is a way in which sound is
this wave.
produced. When a vibration disturbs a
particle in a medium, it therefore affects the Speed of sound is different from each

other particles, thus creating a wave pattern. medium. Sound travels better and faster

Frequency, wavelength amplitude, crest, and though solid than in air. Because sound is

troughs are the different parts of a wave. considered as vibrations that pass from one

Frequency, as mentioned, is defined as cycles particle to another, the more compact the

per second. Wavelength is the overall particles, the faster is sound travel. This

distance between two adjacent crests, troughs explains why sound travels faster in solid

and/or cycles. The maximum positive than in liquid, since the molecules in solid are

displacement is the amplitude. Crests and more compactly bonded compared to those in

trough are respectively the highest and lowest liquid. The same scenario can be observed

points of a wave cycle. V=f is the basic and said respectively for liquid and gas.

equation which depicts mathematically the Vacuum environment does not promote

relationship of the variables of a wave sound travel. Medium elasticity and density

motion. are also considered in wave speed.

Different waves are produced

depending on the medium type. Standing In activity 1, the following equations

waves are produced through air column were used:

vibrations while longitudinal waves are made

from rod vibrations. Standing waves are
= 4 + 0.3
associated with resonance and it is thus the
principle behind the sound produced by =
instruments, specifically wind instruments. It
= 331 + 0.6
came from a combination of reflection and
inference using the wave property of phase Where:
= wavelength of the sound produced = twice the average distances of two
consecutive displacement nodes
L= distance between the top of the glass tube
and point with the loudest sound VR= speed of sound in the rod

D= diameter of the resonance tube R= is the wavelength of the sound in the rod

VE= experimental speed

VT= theoretical speed Percent error was calculated in all the

activities using the equation
T= temperature
%
| |
= 100
the following equations were used for
activity 2:

=
0.5

V= speed of the sound

L= length of the tube

T= time interval
3. Methodology

Activity 1: Resonating Air Column

Activity 3 used the following Begin with the water on top of the
equations: resonance tube and then strike a tuning fork
with a mallet. Place the vibrating tuning fork
=
over the glass tube. Lower the vessel until the

= loudest sound is heard. Determine and mark

Where:
f= frequency of the of the sound produces
V= theoretical value of the speed in air
the point where the sound was heard. If the
aforementioned procedures yielded no result,
strike the fork again. Record it as L. Convert
distance to meters. Measure the diameter of
the resonance tube. Compute the wavelength
of sound produced.
 = 4L + 0.3D f = V/
V=f VR = f R
V= 331 = 0.6t VR (Y/p)

Activity 2: Speed of Sound 4. Results and Discussion

Connect the Vernier microphone to
Activity 1: Resonating Air Column
the interface. Position the microphone near
the open end of the closed tube. Utilizing the Temperature of air = 17C
computer program, snap your fingers or clap
Diameter of Resonance Tube = 0.035 m
once the data collection starts. From the
graph displayed, determine the time interval Table 1.1: Summary of values obtained for

between the start of the first vibration and the the resonating air column

beginning of the echo vibration. Compute for Frequency Wavelength (m)

the speed of sound by diving the length of the of tuning Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3
tube by of the time interval obtained. Fork
Compute for the % error with the same 341.3 1/s 0.101 0.149 0.114m
accepted value used in the previous activity. m m
0.4145 0.6065 0.4665
Activity 3: Speed of Sound in Solid m m m
Place a thin layer of cork dust inside
the Kundts tube. Clamp the rod at its center
Table 1.2: Summary of the computed values
and rub the rod with a piece of cloth with
for the resonating air column
powder of coarse nature. This will vibrate the
rod, producing a sound of high frequency. A Average Experim Theore %

standing wave patter will be thus formed in Wave- en-tal ti-cal erro

the cork dust inside the tube. Measure the length speed speed r

distances between two consecutive 341 0.121

displacement nodes. Get the average of the .3 m
distances. Determine the frequency of sound 1/s
produced using the formula. Compute the %
error.
 04958 169.22 341.2 50
m m/s m/s % experiment which represented the velocity of
In Activity 1, the wavelength of the
sound was determined through the utilization
of two frequencies of tuning forks, 341.3 1/s
and an unknown frequency though the use of
the resonance of an air column. The time
allotted, coupled with the crowding resulted
in our inability to complete the activity.
The material used in the experiment
was a long cylindrical tube water container
attached to a reservoir with a tuning fork. The
length of the water may be altered by
elevating or lowering the water level while
the tuning fork is held over the open end of
the tube. Resonance is then exhibited through
the loudest sound produced while the tuning
fork is held over the cylinders top. In other
words, resonance is indicated by the sudden
increase in the intensity of sound when a
column is adjusted and positioned to the
certain and proper length
The water surface formed a standing
wave node since the air was constricted and
was not free to move longitudinally. The
open end provided the conditions for an
antinode, but the actual had been found to
occur outside the tube.
The speed was computed in the
sound. The velocity of sound, defined as the
sound that travels in a medium may be found
if the frequency and the wavelength are thus
known. The relationship between these
quantities is:
v = f
where:
V=velocity of sound propagation
f=frequency
= wavelength
Referring to table 1.1, the higher the
frequency, the lower the wavelength. On the
other hand, based on table 1.2, the higher the
frequency, the lower the speed and/or
velocity.
Activity 2: Speed of Sound
Length of tube: 0.44 m
Table 2: Summary of values obtained for the
speed of sound
Trial Total Travel
Time
1 0.0026 s
2 0.0026 s
Average 0.0026s
 Experimental speed 338.46 m/s Activity 3: Speed of Sound in Solid
Theoretical speed 341.2 m/s
% error 0.8 % Sound promulgates hastily in solid
medium. The concept behind the fact is
because of the tighter bond of molecules in
solid molecules ac compared to liquid and
gas. Due to this, it requires less time for the
vibration to travel in a solid medium than in
The speed of sound, as earlier a medium of liquid or gaseous nature.
mentioned is defined as the overall distance
In a Kundts tube set up, sound
travelled per unit time by a specific sound
transmission was through either longitudinal
wave through an elastic medium. In Activity
or transverse waves. The vibration was then
2, a Vernier microphone was connected to the
produced on the clamp rather than the disk as
interface and was placed near the open end of
it has the ability to damage or even break the
the closed tube. When the set up was
glass tube. Standing waves were then
established, one of the members was asked to
produced when the rod was correctly stroked
snap or clap near the tube to produce a graph
into a vibrating state. The wavelength was
in the computer. As research shows, sound
twice as the length of the rod. The nodes and
pressure is the difference between an
antinodes transmitted through the air column
instantaneous pressure given a point where in
was physically visible due to the cork dust
a sound wave and the pressure of a medium
inside. Pulling on the rod with a powdered
is utmost present. Sound pressure decreases
cloth without pulling the cloth entirely off the
inversely in proportion to the distance. Trial
rod resulted in a longitudinal vibration as
1 yielded a travel time of 0.0026s and trial 2
well as a sound of high frequency. Dust heaps
yielded the same value. The speed of sound
appeared separately after continuous
determined was 444.53m/s. The percent error
stroking. The distance between the two
yielded 0.8 %by using the formula theoretical
consecutive dust heaps was subsequently
yield-experimental yield/theoretical yield,
measured and then the average was
where in the theoretical speed found was
determined.
341.2 m/s.
Table 3 displays the measured and computed constraints and crowding over the work
properties of a wave. The computed speed stations, we were only able to achieve half of
generated an experimental speed of 4881.87 the activity. For the speed of sound in air
m/s and a theoretical speed of 5091. 75 m/s, resulted to an experimental speed of 169.22
higher than those computed from the m/s and a theoretical speed of 341.2 m/s, and
preceding two activities. This only shows that resulted to a percent error of 50%. For the
that the velocity of sound is definitely higher speed of sound, the second activity, using the
in a solid medium. There was a 4.12 % error computer, the speed of sound determined was
computed with reference to 5000m/s as an an experimental speed of 338.46 m/s and a
accepted value. theoretical speed of 341.2 m/s and then, the
percent error found was 0.8%. As for the
Table 3. Variables of the speed of sound in
final activity, the class computed for both the
solid
theoretical speed and percent error for
Average of distances 0.0643 m sounds speed in a solid medium and the
between node t node resulting values were respectively 5091 m/s
Wavelength of sound 0.1286 m and 4.12%,. With these results generated
in air from the experiment, I conclude that the class
Frequency of sound 2653.19 1/s was able to attain all the objectives in the said
Length of rod 0.46 m experiment.
Wavelength of sound 1.84 m
in rod 6. Applications
Experimental speed 4881.87 m/s
of sound in the rod 1. What is the relation between the
Theoretical speed of 5091 m/s frequency and wavelength of sound
sound in the rod produced in a medium?
% error 4.12 %
The relationship between sound
frequency and wavelength is inversely
5. Conclusion
proportional. Velocity stays constant, If one
increases the frequency, the wavelength
For the first activity, two trials were
shows a decrease and vice versa.
supposed to be made but due to time
 average. What frequency would be most
2. What is the use of water in Activity 1? effectively detected by the ear at 30c?
V= 331+0.6 (30c)

Waters purpose in Activity 1 is V= 349 m/s

explained in the ocean wave theory. Since = 4(0.027 m) + 0.3(0.007 m)
water was used as the medium for this = 0.1101 m
activity, the surface of the water constitutes f = 349/ 0.1101
the standing wave node due to airs inability
f = 3169.85 /s
to move longitudinally. In addition, and as
5. Suppose that we increase the temperature
mentioned, sound is a longitudinal wave and
of the air through which a sound wave is
therefore fluctuates in a medium.
traveling. a) what does this have on the
velocity of the wave? Explain
3. In medical practice, ultrasound in the
range of 1 to 5 megahertz is being used as
an imaging modality. The associated a.) Speed of sound in air is attainable through
wavelengths in a typical human tissue organ the equation: v_ (sound at t)=331 m/s+0.6 t.
range from 0.3mm to 0.06mm. Find the As the temperature increases, the speed of
velocity of ultrasound in the tissue. sound increases as well.

b.) Sound wavelength is given by the

This aforementioned piece of
technology is a method that allows the equation: =/f. As stated in the previous
determination of sound within living tissues
problem, the speed of sound in air increases
through the utilization of reflecting and
acoustic sensors. as the temperature of air increases; it can be
deduced that as air temperature increases,
Frequency = 5 megaHZ = 5 x 106 Hz
wavelength increases as well.
Wavelength = 0.3 mm = 3 x 10-4 m
6. If you were lying on the ground, would you
Velocity = Frequency x Wavelength
hear footsteps sooner or later with your ear
Velocity = 5 x 106 Hz x 3 x 10-4 m
Velocity = 1500 m/s touching the ground or not?

4. The outer ear of a human may be thought Due to the fact that sounds
of as a closed pipe 2.7 cm long on the undoubtedly travels quicker in solid
mediums, one can hear sound sooner as the
ear touches the ground.

References

[1] The Wave Equation. (2016). Retrieved

from
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/cl
ass/waves/Lesson-2/The-Wave-
Equation

[2] Nave, R. (2012). Wave Speeds.

Retrieved from
http://hyperphysics.phy-
astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Sound/souspe2.ht
ml

[3] Resonance Tube: Velocity of Sound.

(n.d.)

Retrieved from
http://hyperphysics.phy-
astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Class/PhSciLab/re
stube2.html

[4] The Speed of Sound in Other Material.

(n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.nde-
ed.org/EducationResources/HighSch
ool/Sound/speedinmaterials.htm