Name of the candidate: K.

Vinay Krishna
Name of the examiner: Mrs. Devimurthy
Date: 23/02/2012
Physics lab: Resonance

Background & Inquiry:

Resonance is the phenomenon of vibratory motion which is produced in a body by the influence
of the vibrations of another body when their frequencies are exactly the same.
An air column can easily be set into vibrations with the help of a tuning fork. The frequency of
the air column can be equal to the tuning fork by changing its length. This can be achieved with
the help of an apparatus called resonance tube.
The apparatus consists of a transparent tube which is about 1 meter long and 1cm in diameter.
This tube is fixed to a vertical wooden board or stand. The lower end of the tube is connected by
a rubber tube to reservoir (R) which can be slid up and down along the scale and can be clamped
in any position. A part of the tube and reservoir are filled with water. The flow of water from the
reservoir can be regulated by using the pinch-cock. The base is provided with leveling screw.
The wave travels a distance equal to four times the length of the air column during the time the
prong completes one vibration. Since the distance that a wave travels in one period is equal to
one wavelength of the note is four times the length l of the air column i.e,
=4 l

l= /4

For all types of waves, the velocity is related to frequency and wavelength
v =n

v =n l 4

where, v = velocity
n = frequency
l = length of the air column

Resonance of the resonating tube depends on the following factors

R=

Length of the resonating tube containing the air column (l) directly proportional
The diameter of the resonating tube (D) inversely proportional
Temperature (T) directly proportional
l T
D

Research Question:
How does the first resonating length of the resonating tube (r) depend on the frequency (n) of the
tuning forks? Hence find the velocity (v) of the sound.
Hypothesis:
When the tuning fork is struck against the rubber pad and held at the open end of the resonance
tube, the prong of tuning fork starts its downward movement. The prong of the tuning fork after
reaching its mean position starts its upward journey and sends down in the tube a wave of
refraction. The two waves of refractions thus, superimpose on each other producing stationary
waves and the amplitude of the air particles increases, thereby resulting in the increase of
intensity of loudness. The open-end of the tube is called as the anti-node and the closed-end is
called the node. So the frequency decreases as the first resonating length increases.
Variables:
Independent variable: The independent variable is the frequency of the tuning fork, measured
in hertz (Hz) and denoted by n.

The range of frequencies chosen are 256Hz, 288Hz, 320Hz, 341.3Hz, 384Hz, 426.6Hz,
480Hz and 512Hz.

Dependant variable: The dependant variable is length of the air column measured in centimetre
(cm) and denoted by l.
The length of the air column depends on the length of the water column.

Controlled variable: The controlled variables are

The diameter (D) of the resonance tube 3.6cm.

The length (L) of the resonating tube 100cm
The amount of water in the resonance tube (V)

Apparatus:
S.No.

Materials

Type

Quantity

Resonance Tube

Analogu

A rubber pad

e
Analogu

A Beaker

e
Analogu

A plumb line

e
Analogu

Tuning forks of different frequencies

e
Analogu

Logger Pro 3.5.v

e
Digital

Microsoft Excel

Digital

Microsoft Word

Digital

Meter scale

Analogu

Least

Uncertainty

Count

Diagrams:

0.1cm

0.05cm

Procedure:
Controlling the variable:

The apparatus has to be filled with constant level of water for every observation taken.
The same resonating tube was used for the entire investigation.
The set-up apparatus was placed horizontal and parallel to the floor.

Risk Management:

The resonance tube must be placed vertically.

The tuning fork must be gently struck against the rubber pad and never be thrown down

because this process will cause a minor amount of change in frequency.

The prongs of the tuning fork must not touch the edge of the tube and their ends must

remain in the centre of the tube itself.

The tuning fork must not be roughly handled.

Procedure:

Set the resonance tube vertically with the help of plumb line and levelling screws such

that the vertical board is equidistant from the thread of the plumb line at every point.
Pour water into the reservoir and the tube.
Test the pinch cock i.e., the water level in the tube will not change when the pinch-cock is

closed and note down the room temperature in C.

Strike gently a tuning fork of frequency 512 hertz on the rubber pad. Hold it above the

open end of the tube so that its prongs will be horizontal and vibrate in a vertical plane.
Now adjust the level of water in the resonance tube by raising and lowering the reservoir

till a sound of maximum intensity is heard.

Note the position of water-level with the help of a scale. This is the first resonating

length.
Repeat the investigation with tuning forks of different frequencies.
Note the room temperature with the use of thermometer.

Observations:
Raw Data:
S.N
o

(l10.05) (l20.05) (l30.05) (lmean0.05)

cm
cm
cm
cm

Uncertainty (l)
Percentage Error
maximumminimum
(l/lmean) 100
2

512

16

16.1

16

16.03

0.05

0.312

480

17.3

17.2

17.3

17.27

0.05

0.290

426.
6
384

19.5

19.5

19.6

19.53

0.05

0.256

21.9

21.9

21.8

21.86

0.05

0.229

341.
3
S.No
6
320

24.3

24.3

24.4

24.33

0.05

0.206

25.7 N

25.6

mean
l
25.6

nl
25.63

V=
0.05

V0.195

28.9

(4nl)/100
0.00

4
5

288

8 2 256

28.9
512
32.4
480

28.9
16.03
32.3
17.27

28.9
8207.36
32.4
8289.6

32.36 331.58

328.29

0.05

3.405

0.000

0.115 0.155

426.6

19.53

8331.5

333.26

1.565

384

21.86

8394.24

335.77

4.075

341.3

24.33

8304.87

332.19

0.495

320

25.63

8202.67

328.1

3.595

288

28.9

8323.2

332.93

1.235

256

32.36

8285.86

331.44

0.255

Vmean =331.695

Vmean =1.8425

From the observation Table 1) it can be observed that the personal error of recording the values
during the investigation is less than 0.5%.

Final error: Amean Amean = 331.701.84

Relative error = Amean/ Amean = 1.84/331.70 = 0.00554
Percentage error= 0.00554 100 = 0.55%

Standard deviation = (maximum value minimum value)/2

= (335.77 328.10)/2
= 7.67/2

= 3.835
Relative error = 3.835 / 335.77
= 0.0114
Percentage error = 0.0114 100
= 1.14%
Literature value of velocity of sound in water at room temperature is 334ms-1.
The experimental value of velocity of sound in water at room temperature is 331.695ms-1.

Error percent=

Literature valueexperimental value

100
Literature Value

334331.695
100
334

= 0.0069 100
= 0.69%

Graphs:
Best Fit Line:

Linear Fit:

The graph is a straight line graph since it is passing through all the error bars.
Slope (m) is a mathematical term in physics that is used to describe the steepness of a
line. Here the slope is 0.0001211cm/Hz.
Correlation = 0.9995 100 = 99.95%. Correlation when multiplied by 100 gives the
validity of the relation between the dependent variable and independent variable. From
the above graph it can be determined that the relation between the dropped height and
depth is 99.95% valid in accordance with the hypothesis.

The y-intercept in the graph indicates the presence of some error because it is not passing
through 0. Here the y-intercept is -0.0001976cm

To show that there is linear relationship between the dependent variable and independent variable
max-minima graph is plotted.
Max-Minima Graph:

 This graph includes (0, 0) origin which shows that the relationship is linear.
The initial values are in less accordance with the hypothesis when compared to the last
values because the gap between the two lines is less for the last values and more for the
initial values.

Graphical Analysis:
Best fit slope = 1/ 0.0001211 = 8257.64

Max slope = 1/0.0000961 = 10405.83

Min slope= 1/ 0.0001450 = 6896.55

Systematic error =

( Max Min )
2

= 10405.83 6896.55/ 2 = 1754.64

% error = 1754.64/8257.64 100 = 21.24%

Conclusion:
The results obtained were measured as accurate as possible, and covered a range
of frequencies, from 256 hertz to 512 hertz and not above that, as this range would give me exact
and accurate values within a short period of time. If the range was increased, the external
vibrations would be more apparent and credible and as a result the error would have increased.
Also, the results obtained were narrowed to + or - each side of the result. Overall, the
investigation was carried out with 1.14% random error and systematic error of 21.24%. The
investigation was done following the given procedure. There were eight data points which were
collected. The investigation was related to the determination of the relationship between the first
resonating length and the frequency. In my investigation, I also calculated the velocity of sound.
As the frequency was decreased the first resonating length increased. So frequency is inversely
proportional to the first resonating length. This proves my hypothesis correct.
The meter scale used has an uncertainty of (l0.05cm).

Evaluation:
The percentage error was calculated to be 21.24 %. This shows that there were some errors in the investigation.
The investigation mainly suffered from systematic error. The main reasons for getting the error are:

The presence of moisture in the tube would have raised the velocity of the sound
The position of the resonance may not have been accurately determined because for these

types of investigation s the scale should be more precise.

The tuning fork had been dropped thrice from a greater height during the investigation
which may have altered the frequency of the tuning fork.

By repeating the investigation using several tuning forks of different frequencies, an accurate
measurement of speed of sound can be determined. Although some of the calculated velocities
were far from the literature value of 330ms-1, the average of all the velocities is 331.701.84.
The investigation proves the hypothesis correct within an acceptable error range.

Improvements:

In order to obtain a more precise and accurate measurement electronic decibel-meter this

shows the loudness wave.

The error which was calculated for value of the speed of sound is inversely proportional
to the number of readings taken. By decreasing the number of readings, we increase the

variation and the influence of measurements exceeding the deviation.

The plastic tube that was used to perform the investigation was old and worn out. It was
not in a perfectly vertical position which affected the readings of the water level and they
may have been altered. Indeed, if the water makes an angle to the horizontal, the
meniscus will be higher or lower than it gives rise to give a systematic reading error.
By using another tube and making sure that it is vertically positioned during the

investigation, such inaccuracies can be reduced.

By making several similar tuning forks vibrate above the tube one after the other, a
constant source of resonance can be established and more time is left to take the
measurements.