AIM

two-resonance
To find the speed of sound in air at roonm temperature using a resonance tube by
positions.

WHAT YOU REQUIRE

Resonancetube apparatus,
two tuning forks of different frequencies, a rubber pad, water in a beaker, a plumb
line, a thermometer and a setsquare.
 THEORYY = length of air column in Seco
Speed of sound in air v = 2vl, - 1,) where v = frequency of tuning fork, l, cond

resonance with tuning fork and l,

= length of air column at first resonance.

SYSTEMATIC STEPS TO PERFORM THE EXPERIMENT

and spirit level (or plumb line).
1. Set the resonance tube vertical using lavelling screws
so that it rises upto the brim the pipe
Open the pinch cork and fill sufficient water in the reservoir
in
2.
and does not spill out even if the reservoir is brought to the lowest possible position.

142 7agether with Physics Lab Manual-11

Starting with the zero lengtn ot air column in pipe, try for the frst,
resonance position. For this
sui

o
tuning fork with the rubber pad, bring it near the free
onening of the sound.
he reservoir, gradually lower the level of water in the pipe first in nineofand hear and thenLowerg
n
millimetres
of
till we hear a maximum sound
v steps centimetre
with the tuning fork.
s
r and raising the
Lower
level of water by one
millimetre ensure that the loudness falls sharplyon ether si
position.
of the resonance

6
5.
Record the length y, of air column at first resonance.
Increase the length jy,

length of air
ot air column by a few

column yg
Find mean
resonating
centimetres

length

Increase the length of air column to about three times and repeat steps 3, 4,
of air column corresponding
to second resonance.

6, 7 With tuning fork of a different

l =2
and repeat steps 3, 4 and 5 and

5 and 6 and
find resonating

find the length

8.Repeat steps 3, 4, 5,
frequency.
Do not forget to measure the atmospheric
temperature in the beginning and end of the experiment.

OBSERVATION
1()
)Roomtemperature in the beginning of the experiment0, = C
Room temperature at the end of the experiment 0, = C
(i) Mean value of room temperature 0 = 2 C
2.Position of the top end A of the resonance tube, y = cm
TABLE FOR RESONATING LENGTH WITH DIFFERENT FREQUENCIES
Position of water level at resonance
Frequency of
Length of air column
fork Resonance Level Level
tunning Mean
l=y-,(cm)
(Hz) falling

cm)
rising

y (cm) - (cm)

D 480 Ist

Ilnd

D512 Ist

IInd

)
CALCULATION
For

,-2 x
tuning fork of

480 (,-1)
480 Hz

ii)
For
tuning fork of 512 Hz
V2x 512
(-1) in air = ms
value of velocity of sound

RESULT

Velocity of sound in air at CC is m s

PRECAUTIONS
1.
2.
There

The De
should

fork
no leakageof water
from the apparatus.

should be struck gently

against
a soft rubber pad.

Section B: Experiments 143

 ne Vibrating tuning fork should be held horizontally over the open
end or the tube.

The prongs of
4 vibrating tuning fork should not touch the tube.
a set square.
be taken with the help
ot
eading of the lower meniscus of water level should
6. Rising or tube must be slow.
of water
ne lowering
resonance positions should be
in resonance

observed for rising as well as falling ot water level in the tube

SOURCES OF ERROR
1. The observed value of veloeity of sound in air may be slightly more than the standard value at o'C
due
to presence of moisture in air.

as loudness is very low,

cond resonance position may not be very accurately identified of sound
3. There may be change in temperature during the experiment.
4. Resonance tube may not be vertical.

VIVA VOCE

Q.1. What is the aim of your experiment? Q.10. What characteristics of sound can you determine
Ans. To determine the using a resonance column?
speed of sound in air using
resonance column. Ans. Wavelength and velocity of sound.

Q.2. How do you proceed for that? Q.11. Can you also find the frequency of tuning fork
Ans. set up an air column in first and second
I
using resonance column?

resonance with a given tuning fork and then Ans. Yes,if velocity of sound in air is given we can find
used the formula v =2vl, -1, the frequency of tuning fork using the formula

Q.3. What is v in this relation?

Ans. Frequency of the given tuning fork.
v 20-1)
Q.12. How will you find the speed of sound in
Q.4. And what is v?
air at

0 °C?
Ans. Velocity of sound in air at room temperature.
Ans. We determined the speed of sound in air at room
Q.5. How did you introduce the frequency of tuning
temperature 0. The speed of sound at 0 °C can
fork in the formulafor velocity of sound in air?
be calculated using formulav, = -0.616.
u,
Ans. At resonance the natural frequency of air column
Q.13. Will velocity of sound be more in dry air or in
is equal to the frequency of tuning fork.
humid air?
9.6. Why did you determine the length
of air columnAns. In humid air.
at two resonance position?
Q.14. Will you explain?
Ans. To eliminate end error.
Ans. v oc and with increase in humidity,
Q.7. What is end error?
density
Ans. This is the error in the measurementof resonating density of air decreases resulting in an increase

length due to the non-rigidity of reflecting in speed.

surfaces. Q.15. Out of the three states of matter in which state

Q.8. Can you determine velocity of sound in air using is the speed of sound maximum?
first resonance only? Ans. Speed of sound is maximum in solid state.

Ans. Yes, by using the formula u = 4v (l + 0.3D) where Q.16.Why?

D is the diameter of the resonance tube.

What of waves are produced in air

Ans. Because, v = E and the coefficient of elastiety
Q.9. type is much more for solids than for liquids and
very
column? gases.
waves.
Ans. Longitudinal stationary

Physics Lab Manual-11

144 7agether wit