Wind Chime Project

Name: Your task will be to design and build a wind chime based on a musical chord of your choice. A chord is a harmonic combination of several notes. Each note is a sound wave with its own frequency. As you know, the frequency of a note determines its pitch. Notes with higher frequencies have higher pitches. If a note has a frequency that is double the frequency of another note, the two notes are said to be the same. For example, a note with a frequency of 220Hz is the musical note A. A note with a frequency of 440Hz is also an A note. These two notes are said to be one octave apart. In western music, each octave is divided into 12 notes. Your first task will be to determine the frequency for these notes. To do so, you must use the mathematical relationship between frequency and note number. This relationship is: Freq = (27.5)*2(x/12) 1. Complete the appropriate table using this relationship. 2. Measure the length of 4 or 5 copper pipes in centimeters. You may need to create your own pipe lengths to do so. Use LoggerPro and the microphones to determine the frequency for each of these pipes. In order for the pipe to resonate you must hold the pipe 2/9 from the end of the pipe. Measure this distance carefully. Enter this data into the proper table. 3. Using your calculator or Graphical Analysis, find the power equation that relates pipe length (x-axis) to frequency (y-axis). Power Equation: y = A*(x)B

4. Choose a chord for your wind chime. Your wind chime should include between 4 and 6 musical notes. Select the notes for you wind chime from the proper table and look up the frequencies for these notes. Choose notes so that the lengths of each pipe are similar. Then, use your power equation to find the lengths of pipe that will give you the proper frequency. 5. Find some pipe and start cutting. Cut the pipes to the lengths you have determined will give you the sounds you have chosen. 6. You must now drill holes into your pipes. However, you do not want to affect the frequency of your pipe when drilling these holes. Thus, drill your holes 2/9 of the

distance from either end of the pipe. This position coincides with a node (the position on a standing wave that does not appear to vibrate). 7. Find the actual frequency for each pipe and compare this to what you intended the frequency to be. Use these values to calculate the percent error. 8. You must now assemble your wind chime. First you must find something decorative from which to hang your wind-chime. You must provide this yourself. Once you have selected an object, obtain a clapper (the thing that hangs in the center of the wind chime and bumps into the pipes when the wind blows) and some fishing line. Sand and polish your pipes prior to assembly. Use your creativity when putting your chime together. Make it something of which you would be proud. 9. Summarize your results in a one page, typed report. Be sure you turn in your data tables with your summary. Your report should include the following. How did you determine the frequency of the pipes in step 1? How did you find the experimental power equation for frequency vs. length? How did you calculate the lengths of pipe once you determined the frequencies of the notes you wanted in your chime? Why do you need to hold or hang a pipe 2/9 of the distance from either end? How did the actual frequencies of your final pipe compare with what you wanted them to be? What caused these differences? 10. Complete a sketch of one of your tubes resonating. Label all significant parts. Project (wind chime and summary) is due May 15

Musical Note Table

Note C C sharp D D sharp E F F sharp G G sharp A A sharp B C C sharp D D sharp E F F sharp G G sharp A A sharp B C Number 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 Frequency (Hz) Length (cm)

880

1760

You only need to complete this table for the notes you plan to include as part of your wind chime.

Power Function Table

Use this table to find the relationship between pipe length and frequency. Trial 1 2 3 4 5 Length (m) Frequency (Hz)

Write your power equation here: Freq =

Results Table
Use this table along with the equations provided to determine the note frequency and the pipe lengths. Then determine how closely your actual frequency is to the intended frequency. Intended Experimen (Actual) tal (Lab) Frequency Frequency (Hz) (Hz)

Note you Selected

Note Number

Pipe Length (m)

Percent Error (%)