Experiment No.

04
Measurement of Speed of Sound
Objective
To determine the speed of sound in air using the concept of resonance and to compare it with
its theoretical value.
Apparatus
• Kundt’s tube
• Speaker
• Function generator
• Support blocks
• Measurement scale
• Styrofoam balls
Introduction
Sound is energy. It is the kinetic energy of atoms or molecules (particles) in motion in a periodic
manner. All sound is produced by a vibrating membrane of some sort; for our purposes let’s
assume the source is a loudspeaker. When the electrical current in the coil of the loudspeaker
forces it to move forward, the air load in front of it is compressed. Since the currents in a
speaker are sinusoidal, the speaker will quickly be pulled back from its extended position. This
creates a partial vacuum in the air load. The sinusoidal current usually carries interesting
information (speech, music, etc.), and the motion of the speaker, and therefore the air load,
tracks the current. The air load on the speaker forces the mass of air in front of it to move, and
so the chain of compressions and rarefactions spreads out from the loudspeaker to the listener.
This chain is called a longitudinal wave, and it is completely analogous to a sinusoidal (like a
water) wave. The difference in pressure between the compressions and the rarefactions is the
amplitude A (called loudness in music), and the number of waves produced each second is
called the frequency f (pitch). The reciprocal of waves per second would therefore be seconds
per wave; this is called period, T, obviously a specific time interval.
You perceive sound through a vibrating membrane in your ear called the tympanic membrane,
or eardrum. Through a series of bones this vibration is conducted to sensors in your inner ear
which send electrical impulses to your brain, and you ‘‘hear’’. The range of pitches you can
detect is wide, from 20Hz (a hertz is a wave per second) to 20,000Hz, but you do not hear all
frequencies at the same loudness. The ear discriminates against certain frequencies, depending
on age, gender, and general wear and tear on your auditory system. The speed v at which these
or any longitudinal travels is dependent on the medium. Generally, waves travel faster in
mediums that are less compressible and less dense. There is no exact correlation between
compressibility and density, but many of the more incompressible materials are quite dense.
Therefore, sound travels at about 1430m/s in water, but at 5000m/s in steel. Temperature affects
the qualities of water and steel. The speed of sound in Sea water at 25 degrees Celsius is 1530
m/sec. The influence of temperature on gas is more dramatic. The speed of sound in air at
1ATM is 331m/s at 0° C, but increases 0.606 m/s for every 1° C increase in temperature.

Standing Waves
Standing waves are easily seen when vibrating a string which is tied to a point and pulled into
tension. When the tension of the string and the frequency of the vibration is correct, the string
appears to stop moving but takes a sine wave shape. The wave reflecting back from the fixed
point interferes with the wave coming forward and the two waves add or subtract from one
another vibration in the string appears to become stationary. This is a “standing wave’ and the
‘nodes’ and ‘antinodes’ can very easily be seen. As the tension is changed or if the frequency
is changed, the number of ‘nodes’ changes. A ‘node’ is where the string vibration amplitude is
zero and an ‘antinode’ is where the string is vibrating with maximum amplitude. The same
thing occurs in sound but the ‘nodes’ and ‘antinodes’ cannot be seen. However, they can be
detected by ‘hearing’ the vibrations with a microphone or by seeing the vibrations on an
oscilloscope.

l=

(Wavelength)

L
(Length of Tube)
For the calculation of velocity of air through experiment the following relation can be used:
𝑉𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑖𝑟 = 𝑉𝑎 = 𝑓 × 𝜆
Where f is frequency and 𝜆 is the wavelength. However for calculated values the relation that
can be used is:
1
𝑉𝑎 = 𝑉0 [1 + ( × 𝛼 × 𝑡)]
2
The velocity of sound at 0° C is given as 𝑉0, Temperature coeffecient is denoted by 𝛼 and t is

the temperature at which the experiment is being performed (room temp).

Resonance
When sound reflects from the end of an open or closed tube, the reflected wave will interfere
with the original wave multiple times and there is no pattern of addition or destruction of the
original wave. When the frequency is set so that the reflected wave synchronizes with the
original wave there will be an adding and subtracting from the original wave so that the
resulting standing wave will have a much greater vibration and strength than the original wave.
This is resonance. The various frequencies that cause resonance depend on the length of the
tube.
Procedure

Sound waves generated by audio frequency generator are fed to the Kundt’s tube from one end
via a speaker. The closed end of the tube serves as the reflecting wall. Standing waves may be
generated between the speaker at one end and the tube wall at the other end.

To set up the apparatus following steps are to be followed:

1. Set the tube on a flat surface using support blocks.
2. The tube should be placed parallel to the measuring scale.
3. The tube should be thoroughly cleaned from contaminants.
4. Styrofoam balls are to be placed in the tube.
5. Set the frequency on the function generator.
6. The output of the function generator is to be connected to the speaker.
7. Speaker should be attached tightly at the open end of the tube.
8. Using the measuring scale, the readings such as wavelength of the air column can be
noted.
Activity
Change the frequency of the signal from the function generator and note down the readings in
the following table. Repeat this step by changing frequency.

Applied No.of Loops Length of Length per Wavelength Velocity of

Frequency Formed in Air Column Loop 𝝀=𝟐×𝒍 Sound
(f) Tube (p) in Tube (d) 𝒅 𝑽=𝒇×𝝀
(𝒍= )
𝒑
𝒄𝒎
( )
𝒔𝒆𝒄
 Lab Exercise and Summary
Summary should cover Introduction, Procedure, Data Analysis and Evaluation.
Student’s Signature: ________________ Date: ________________
 LABORATORY SKILLS ASSESMENT (Psychomotor)

Total Marks: 100

Criteria Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Score

(Max Marks) 0% ≤ S < 50% 50% ≤ S< 70% 70% ≤ S< 90% 90%≤ S ≤100% (S)
Procedural Selects Selects and Selects and applies Selects and
Awareness inappropriate applies the appropriate applies
(20) skills and/or appropriate skills strategies and/or appropriate
strategies and/or strategies skills specific to strategies and/or
required by the required by the the task without skills specific to
task task with some significant errors the task without
errors any error
Practical Makes several Makes few Makes some non- Applies the
Implementation critical errors in critical errors in critical errors in procedural
(30) applying applying applying knowledge of
procedural procedural procedural Measurement of
knowledge of knowledge of knowledge of Speed of Sound
Measurement Measurement of Measurement of in perfect ways
of Speed of Speed of Sound Speed of Sound
Sound

Safety Requires Requires some Follows safety Routinely follows

(10) constant reminders to procedures with safety procedures
reminders to follow safety only minimal
follow safety procedures reminders
procedures
Use of Uses tools, Uses tools, Uses tools, Uses tools,
Tool/Equipment equipment and equipment and equipment and equipment and
(20) materials with materials with materials with materials with a
limited some competence considerable high degree of
competence competence competence
Participation Shows little Demonstrates Demonstrates Actively helps to
to Achieve commitment to commitment to commitment to identify group
Group Goals group goals and group goals, but group goals and goals and works
(10) fails to perform has difficulty carries out effectively to
assigned roles performing assigned roles meet them in all
assigned roles effectively roles assumed
Interpersonal Rarely interacts Interacts with Interacts with all Interacts
Skills in positively other group group members positively with all
Group Work within a group, members if spontaneously group members
(10) even with prompted and encourages
prompting such interaction in
others

Marks Obtained

Instructor’s Signature: ________________ Date: _______________

 LABORATORY SKILLS ASSESMENT (Affective)
Total Marks: 40

Criteria Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Score

(Max. Marks) 0% ≤ S < 50% 50% ≤ S < 70% 70% ≤ S < 90% 90% ≤ S ≤ 100% (S)

Introduction Very little Introduction is Introduction is Introduction complete

(5) background brief with some nearly complete, and well-written;
information minor mistakes missing some minor provides all necessary
provided or points background principles
information is for the experiment
incorrect
Procedure Many stages of Many stages of The procedure could The procedure is well
(5) the procedure are the procedure be more efficiently designed and all stages
not entered on are entered on designed but most of the procedure are
the lab report. the lab report. stages of the entered on the lab
procedure are report.
entered on the lab
report.
Data Record Data is brief and Data provides Data is almost Data is complete and
(10) missing some significant complete but has relevant. Tables with
significant pieces information and some minor units are provided.
of information. has few critical mistakes. Graphs are labeled. All
mistakes. questions are answered
correctly.
Data Analysis Data is presented Data is Data is presented in Data are presented in
(10) in very unclear presented in ways (charts, tables, ways (charts, tables,
manner. Error ways (charts, graphs) that can be graphs) that best
analysis is not tables, graphs) understood and facilitate understanding
included. that are not clear interpreted. Error and interpretation.
enough. Error analysis is included. Error analysis is
analysis is included.
included.
Report Report contains Report is Report is well Report is well
Quality many errors. somewhat organized and organized and cohesive
(10) organized with cohesive but and contains no
some spelling or contains some grammatical errors.
grammatical grammatical errors. Presentation seems
errors. polished.

Marks Obtained

LABORATORY SKILLS ASSESSMENT (Cognitive)

Total Marks: 10
(If any)

Marks Obtained

Instructor’s Signature: ________________ Date: ________________