Practical#5
PRACTICAL BASED ASSESSMENT (PBA)
Determine the wavelength of sound in air using stationary waves and to calculate the speed of
sound at 00 using resonance tube.
Work sheet: 1
A student used a cylinder column of air closed at one end and a turning fork of frequency 520 Hz in
an experiment to measure the speed of sound air. The following data was recorded
Antinode
Air column
Water
reservoir
Cylindrical Tube
Water pipe
Length of column of air for the first position of resonance =17 cm
Diameter of air column = 1.5cm
1. Labeled diagram of the apparatus used in the experiment. (2)
2. What is resonance and how is it produced in a resonance tube (2)
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3. Why we use turning fork in this experiment? (2)
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4. Describe how the first position of resonance was found? (2)
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5. Calculate the speed of sound if wavelength is 0.712m (2)
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6. How does temperature affect the speed of sound in air? (2)
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Answers
2) Resonance in a tube is, when a vibrating turning fork is held above the open end of the air
column, the air inside the tube begins to vibrate.
If the length of the air column matches the condition for a standing wave. The
air column enters into resonance with the turning fork. This causes the sound to become louder and
clearer, indicating resonance
3) A turning fork vibrates at a fixed and known frequency, which is essential for calculating the
wavelength and speed of sound in air. The turning fork generates a pure sinusoidal sound wave
which makes the resonance points clearer and easier to detect.
4) Hold vibrating fork over inner column, increase length of column from zero, until loudest sound is
heard from column
5) V=fπ
=520x0.712
=370.24ms-1
6) When the temperature of air increases, the molecules move faster, making it easier for sound
waves to travel through the air. This means sound travels faster at higher temperatures.
PRACTICAL BASED ASSESSMENT (PBA)
Worksheet: 2
Standing waves can also be produced in an air column. By changing the height of the water you
change the length of the column. Resonance will occur when the length of the column matches an
integer multiple of half wavelength.
Frequency of turning Resonance point 1 (m) Resonance point 2 (m)
fork (Hz)
450 0.174 0.530
520 0.160 0.496
The difference in length between the two resonance points is half a wavelength
1) Determine the wavelength of each turning fork (2)
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2) Determine the speed of sound in air for turning fork. (2)
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3) The resonance lengths are found to be 25cm to 55 cm. What is the wavelength of the sound
wave? (2)
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4) Two resonance points are found at 24cm and 73 cm. if the turning fork used is 480 Hz.
Calculate (2)
a) Wavelength of the sound
b) Speed of sound in air.
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5) Draw a diagram of the resonance tube experiment and label: (2)
• Water level
• Air column
• Turning fork
• Node and Antinode
6) What would happen if the turning fork touches the edge of the tube during resonance? (2)
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