4/10/2012

Task 4 3AB Physics

Mrs Zuideveld Kyle Ivory 12G

INTRODUCTION Standing Waves

i. What is meant by the term standing wave? A vibration of a system in which some particular points remain fixed while others between them vibrate with maximum amplitude.

ii.

List three requirements for the formation of good looking standing waves. 1) Driving frequency be equal to natural frequency (Resonance) to occur 2) Two waves intersect, travelling different direction. Or one with its reflection 3) Both waves have equal amplitude and frequency.

PART A Resonance of waves

Aim To calculate the fundamental resonant frequency for sound waves in a tube closed at one end, and verify the predicted value experimentally. Theory

Harmonic Equation Working Frequency

(Fundamental)

4/10/2012 Experimental Method

Task 4 3AB Physics

Mrs Zuideveld Kyle Ivory 12G

Speaker Box Used to generate the sound waves. Signal Generator Used to adjust the frequency and volume of the sound wave produced. Accurate to 0.005Hz Tube The experimental tube. Closed at left end by a lid, open at right. Hollowed out depth is 0.925m long0.5cm. The setup involves the tube being held with the open end in front of the lower speaker on the speaker box. A constant frequency is emitted and adjustments are made to the signal generator until resonance is achieved. Results Predicted Frequency for 93.5 (Hz) Observed Frequency for 88.0 | | | (Hz)

Observations Resonance was indicated by the tube noticeably vibrating stronger in the operators hand than it had at frequencies either side and the note sounding louder. Conclusion The results were reasonably inaccurate. The most likely reason for this is that the stopper for the closed endwould have gaps where air could get to from inside the tube that were not measured. Also the measurement for (speed of sound in air) was given without reference to the air temperature at the time of the experiment and is likely to be incorrect. Extension A closed cylinder will have approximate resonances of where "n" here is an odd number (1, 3, 5...). This type of tube produces only odd harmonics and has its fundamental frequency an octave lower than that of an open cylinder (that is, half the frequency). A more accurate equation is given:
( )

4/10/2012

Task 4 3AB Physics

Mrs Zuideveld Kyle Ivory 12G

PART B Resonance of microwaves in an oven

Aim To calculate the speed of light from measurement of the intermodal distance between hot spots visible in slices of buttered bread in a microwave oven. Theory Microwave reflective metal wall

Reflected microwave

Microwave transmission Bread

As microwaves pass through food, the microwaves cause the surrounding molecules to vibrate, therefore increasing friction, therefore heat. Mainly in sugar, water, and fat. The rotating table is deactivated so that the waves will always have the same orientation on the food so that it is clear where the waves have nodes. The hot spots occur at both the original waves max points, and the reflected waves max points.

From the diagram it is obvious that hot spots occur two times in each wave (length). Thus we derive the relationship, The internodal distance is the distance between two nodes (or hot spots) of a wave and its reflection.

4/10/2012 Experimental Method

Task 4 3AB Physics

Mrs Zuideveld Kyle Ivory 12G

Microwave oven Used to emit and contain the microwaves. Rotating plate has been removed. Ruler Standard 1m ruler, used to measure the internodal distance. Accurate to 1cm. Bread Bread that has been buttered so as to be able to easily distinguish between the nodes (hot spots) and anti-nodes. Four pieces are used so as to get a better result as the internodal distance is close to the length of the bread. Results Formula Working Answer Observed Result ( ( ( ) ) ) Accepted Result( )

Observation It became obvious that the microwaves had been emitted at their resonance because the hot spots were visibly constant, if not; the hotspots would shift and melt all the margarine and make obtaining results impossible. Conclusion The results are correct. The ruler had an uncertainty of 1cm. If the internodal distance was measured at approximately 0.9cm below the observed measurement then the accepted result for the speed of light would be achieved. | |

4/10/2012

Task 4 3AB Physics

Mrs Zuideveld Kyle Ivory 12G

PART C Calculation of the diameter of a human hair.

Aim To calculate the diameter of one of your head hairs using Youngs Double Slit method involving the distance between interference fringes produced by the superposition of diffracted laser light rays around the edges of the hair. Theory is defined as the distance between slits in meters. = is the wavelengthin meters is the distance from the hair sample to the board in meters is theinterference fringe distance or the distance between light spots on the board in meters

Hair Equation

Or Or

Experimental Method Laser the monochromatic light source. Frame used to hold the human hair tort and stable. Human Hair the test subject extracted from Mr D. Hinton Whiteboard a smooth surface perpendicular to the laserwhich the results are displayed on. Rule one meter ruler to measure . Accurate to 6cm (1cm per rule length) The hair is taped to the frame so that it is as straight as possible. It and the laser are positioned stationary so that the light from the laser is shining onto and either side of the hair and then the

4/10/2012

Task 4 3AB Physics

Mrs Zuideveld Kyle Ivory 12G

superposition of the diffracted light waves are projected onto the board. Record the distancebetween dark spots from the board. Results

Equation Working Result

( ) 0.055

( ) -

( ) 6.013

( )

Observations To obtain the diameter of a human hair, using Youngs Double Slit experiment is a far more reliable method to using measuring implements as being able to measure down to 17 180 m as the accuracy can be increased phenomenally by increasing . Provided you have a laser or other suitable monochromatic light source.

Conclusion The results are within the accepted range. The range for a human hair is between 17 and 180m, the result was 70.5m. The uncertainties in measurements can always be decreased by use of more accurate measuring implements. To measure a smaller increment, the can just be increased. I think the method works well.