Waves

Resonance Column Experiment

 Waves
Resonance Column Experiment
Objective : To find the speed of sound in air
Apparatus : A cylindrical tube, in which the level of water can be adjusted and a tuning fork

OR

Basically its the length of the air column in tube, which matters!
 Waves
Resonance Column Experiment
Procedure: Set the tuning fork into vibration over the tube. Frequency of tuning fork is known.
This sets up vibrations in air column, which
travels in the tube, reflects from the water, and
then interfere to form standing waves

Concept : When the driving frequency (in

this case the tuning fork’s) matches with the
natural frequency (in this case the
frequencies of the standing waves)
resonance occurs, and a loud sound is heard

We start with tube completely filled, and keep decreasing the

length of the water column in the tube, till resonance occurs.
The reading of L for which resonance occurred is noted
 Waves
Resonance Column Experiment
Theory : The general expression for natural frequencies in closed end organ pipe is given by
v n = 0,1,2,3…
f = (2n+1)
4l l  length of air column
fT Denominator will be less,
making frequency high
l
When we begin, l is very small, so the
natural frequencies are very high
NATURAL FREQUENCIES

0 fT v/4l 3v/4l 5v/4l

As we increase l, natural frequencies
decreases, and they move towards fT
 Waves
Resonance Column Experiment
NATURAL FREQUENCIES

0 fT v/4l 3v/4l 5v/4l

We keep on increasing the length, till the natural

frequency matches with that of tuning fork
You can see from the figure
First resonance will occur with fundamental frequency
On further increasing the length
Second resonance will occur with 3rd Harmonic
Third resonance will occur with 5th Harmonic
and so on …
 Waves
Resonance Column Experiment

L0 = /4

START 1st Reso 2nd Reso 3rd Reso

Fundamental 3rd Harmonic 5th Harmonic
 Waves
Resonance Column Experiment
Calculations
A ) When we have the reading l1 for the first resonance
fT
We know first resonance occurs
l1 with the fundamental frequency
fT = v/4l1
considering end corrections
fT = v/4(l1+e)
v = 4fT(l1+e)

1st Reso
Fundamental
 Waves
Resonance Column Experiment
Calculations
B ) When we have any two consecutive resonance readings l1 and l2
fT
Since they are consecutive
l1 l2  l1 = /2
l2 v = f
v = fT 2(l2  l1)

Reso Next
Consecutive
Reso
 Waves
Resonance Column Experiment
Calculations
C) When we have the reading l1 for the first resonance and reading l2 for the second resonance
fT
i) Finding the end correction
l1 For 1st reso with fundamental
l2
fT = v/4(l1+e) …
For 2nd reso with 3rd harmonic
fT = 3v/4(l2+e) …
v/4(l1+e) = 3v/4(l2+e)
l2+e = 3(l1+e)
1st Reso 2nd Reso
Fundamental 3rd Harmonic (l2  3l1)/2 = e
Waves