Physics Lab Station: Waves and Sound
Lab that can be done using the Physics Lab Station Waves and Sound bundle.
Grade Level: Advanced Placement • High School
Subject: Physics
Activities
01) Resonance and Standing Waves
Students use a resonance air column, tuning forks, and the principles of resonance and standing waves for a pipe with one closed end to experimentally determine a value for the speed of sound in air.
02) Properties of Sound Waves
Students will learn the meaning of terms (frequency, period, crest, trough, amplitude, wavelength and wave speed) used to describe waves by studying sound waves from tuning forks captured on an oscilloscope display. They will learn how to measure some of these quantities and discover the relationships between them.
03) Measuring the Speed of Sound with an Echo
Students will first predict the speed of sound in the air of their classroom using a simple relationship accounting for temperature. Students will measure the time it takes a short pulse of sound to travel the length of a tube, reflect off the closed end, and return. Using this measurement, they will calculate the speed of sound and compare it to their prediction.
04) Decoding DTMF Tones
Students will use a wireless sound sensor and the fast Fourier Transform (FFT) display of the data collection software to analyze the tones produced when dialing a phone. They will uncover the pattern of these dual frequency tones showing the first frequency gives the row of the key on the numeric keypad and the second frequency gives the column. From this information they can determine what key is pressed without seeing it.
