Andrew Hutchesson – Speed of Sound

Results:

        Raw Data:

                

                Frequency

                        512 Hertz

                Ambient Temperature

                        25° Celsius ± 0.5°

        Processed Data:

Average uncertainty

        First Harmonic

                (Max – Min) / 2 = (140 – 139) / 2 = 0.5

                :. Average uncertainty is ±0.5 mm

        Third Harmonic

                (Max – Min) / 2 = (414 – 412) / 2 = 1

                :. Average uncertainty is ±1 mm

Wavelength

            λ = 2(Third Harmonic – First Harmonic)

        :. λ = 2(413 – 139.3)

        :. λ = 2(273.4)

        :. λ = 547.4 ± 3mm

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Speed of Wave

            vr = λ f

 :. vr = 0.5474 * 512

         :. vr =280.2688 m/s-1  ± 0.003 m/s-1

Literary Value for Speed of Sound

            vl = 331 + (25 * 0.6)

        :. vl = 331 + 15

:. vl = 346 m/s-1

Discussion and Analysis

  1. The experimental speed of sound was 280.2688m/s-1 ± 0.003 m/s
  2.     % Difference = (346 - 280.2688) / 346 * 100

  = 65.7312 / 346 * 100

  = 0.18997456647398843930635838150289 * 100

  = 18.997456647398843930635838150289

        :. % Difference ≈ 19.0 %

        :. vr = 280.2688  m/s-1 ...

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