Scribd
Upload
48 views

03handout Physics

This document describes two experiments to measure wave properties. The first measures transverse standing waves on a string to determine wave speed and linear mass density. It instructs setting up the apparatus and finding resonance frequencies to calculate speed using different harmonics, then taking the average. This speed is used to find linear mass density, which is checked with a balance and ruler. The second experiment demonstrates longitudinal standing waves in air to determine sound speed. A tuning fork is used to create resonances in a tube, measured to calculate wavelength and thus speed of sound using the fork frequency. Speed is checked with a second fork.

Uploaded by

Timothy Kennedy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
48 views

03handout Physics

This document describes two experiments to measure wave properties. The first measures transverse standing waves on a string to determine wave speed and linear mass density. It instructs setting up the apparatus and finding resonance frequencies to calculate speed using different harmonics, then taking the average. This speed is used to find linear mass density, which is checked with a balance and ruler. The second experiment demonstrates longitudinal standing waves in air to determine sound speed. A tuning fork is used to create resonances in a tube, measured to calculate wavelength and thus speed of sound using the fork frequency. Speed is checked with a second fork.

Uploaded by

Timothy Kennedy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Activity 1: Transverse Standing Waves

Set up the apparatus with ~200 g of mass hanging from the string. If the amplitude becomes too
large when adjusting the frequency, the generator will become very noisy. Be sure to reduce the
amplitude when this happens or the generator may be damaged.
1.

Determine the fundamental frequency, f1, along with several harmonics.


f1 =
f2 =
f3 =
f4 =
f5 =

2.

Use the expression for transverse standing waves to calculate the speed of the wave.

v
f m = m

2 L

m = 1, 2, 3,K

(using f1) v =
(using f2) v =
(using f3) v =
(using f4) v =
(using f5) v =
3.

The values for speed should be nearly identical. Use the average value to calculate the
linear mass density of the string.
vaverage =

v=

Ts
mL

( m L )standing wave =
4.

Use a balance and meter stick to check the value of the linear mass density.

( m L )meter stick - balance =


1

Activity 2: Longitudinal Standing Waves


This experiment is used to determine the speed of sound. Observe the demonstration for the
apparatus. The actual data collection will be done as a demonstration.
1.

Start with the catch basin raised to the highest position.

2.

Strike the tuning fork and hold it slightly above the top of the tube.

3.

Move the catch basin down, which lowers the water level in the tube, until a resonance is
heard. You may need to strike the fork again and adjust the catch basin slightly to get an
accurate position for the resonance.

4.

Measure the distance from the top of the tube to the water level in the tube. Record this
in the table below under first resonance. This will be value L1 .

5.

Again move the catch basin down until the next resonance is heard, measure the distance
from the top of the tube to the water level and record as the second resonance, L2

6.

Depending upon the frequency of the tuning fork, it may be possible to hear a third
resonance. If you hear a third resonance, record this distance in the table.
Resonance

L = Distance ( m )

1
2
3
7.

Calculate the distance between successive resonance positions

L2 L1 =
L3 L2 =
8.

For a tube open at one end, in order to support standing waves, the length of the tube
1 3 5
must be an odd number of quarter-wavelengths, L = , , K
4 4 4

9.

calculations of L above, determine the wavelength .


resonances, calculate two wavelengths.

10.

. From your
2
If you measured three

The distance between any successive resonances must then be L =

The speed, frequency, and wavelength are related together as v = f . The frequency of
the tuning fork is stamped on the side of the fork. Using the wavelength you calculated
above, determine the speed of sound in air.

vsound =
11.

Using another tuning fork, repeat the steps above and determine another value for the
speed of sound.
Resonance

L = Distance ( m )

1
2
3
12.

Calculate the distance between successive resonance positions

L2 L1 =
L3 L2 =

13.

calculations of L above, determine the wavelength .


resonances, calculate two wavelengths.

14.

. From your
2
If you measured three

The distance between any successive resonances must then be L =

The speed, frequency, and wavelength are related together as v = f . The frequency of
the tuning fork is stamped on the side of the fork. Using the wavelength you calculated
above, determine the speed of sound in air.

vsound =

You might also like