asked 24.5k views
0 votes
A student attempts to determine the speed of sound using a tuning fork with a frequency of 256 Hz. She finds tubes (with one closed end and one open end) with lengths of 30.0 cm and 98.0 cm produce extra loud sounds for that frequency (no loud sounds are heard between 30.0 cm and 98.0 cm). What is the speed of sound according to this data?

1 Answer

6 votes

The speed of sound can be determined using the formula:

v = fλ

where v is the speed of sound, f is the frequency of the tuning fork and λ is the wavelength of the sound wave.

The wavelength of the sound wave can be calculated using the formula:

λ = 4L/n

where L is the length of the tube and n is the harmonic number.

From the given data, we have two tubes with lengths 30.0 cm and 98.0 cm that produce extra loud sounds for a tuning fork with a frequency of 256 Hz. The length of the tube with one closed end and one open end is equal to one-fourth of the wavelength of the sound wave produced by the tuning fork. Therefore, we can calculate the wavelength as follows:

λ = 4L/n

For L = 30.0 cm and n = 1,

λ1 = 4(30.0 cm)/1 = 120.0 cm

For L = 98.0 cm and n = 1,

λ2 = 4(98.0 cm)/1 = 392.0 cm

Since both tubes produce extra loud sounds for a tuning fork with a frequency of 256 Hz, we can assume that this frequency corresponds to the fundamental frequency (n=1). Therefore, we can calculate the speed of sound as follows:

v = fλ

v = (256 Hz)(120.0 cm) = 30720 cm/s

v = (256 Hz)(392.0 cm) = 100352 cm/s

Therefore, according to this data, the speed of sound is approximately 30720 cm/s or 100352 cm/s depending on which tube was used.