Kentucky Community & Technical College System
Using Stationary Waves in a Closed Pipe to Determine Temperature
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Aseem Talukdar; G. Michael Shifflett
Abstract
A standing wave is a wave that remains in a constant position. Sound can be produced from the vibration of standing waves in a column of air within a tube or a pipe, for example, an organ pipe. Standing waves can occur at more than one frequency, and the frequencies at which standing waves are produced are called the resonant frequencies. In this experiment tuning forks of known frequencies were used and the length of the air column was varied to produce resonance, and therefore determine the speed of sound. Since the speed of sound is known as a function of temperature, the temperature of the room could be determined. The procedure was repeated for tuning forks at several different frequencies. On each occasion the experimental result was compared to the room temperature measured with a thermometer.
Using Stationary Waves in a Closed Pipe to Determine Temperature
A standing wave is a wave that remains in a constant position. Sound can be produced from the vibration of standing waves in a column of air within a tube or a pipe, for example, an organ pipe. Standing waves can occur at more than one frequency, and the frequencies at which standing waves are produced are called the resonant frequencies. In this experiment tuning forks of known frequencies were used and the length of the air column was varied to produce resonance, and therefore determine the speed of sound. Since the speed of sound is known as a function of temperature, the temperature of the room could be determined. The procedure was repeated for tuning forks at several different frequencies. On each occasion the experimental result was compared to the room temperature measured with a thermometer.