One method for measuring the speed of sound uses standing waves. A cylindrical t

Question

One method for measuring the speed of sound uses standing waves. A cylindrical tube is open at both ends, and one end admits sound from a tuning fork. A movable plunger is inserted into the other end at a distance L from the end of the tube where the tuning fork is. For a fixed frequency, the plunger is moved until the smallest value of L is measured that allows a standing wave to be formed. Suppose that the tuning fork produces a 488-Hz tone, and that the smallest value observed for L is 0.241 m. What is the speed of sound in the gas in the tube?

V=  -----------m/s

Explanation / Answer

so effectively the tube is closed at one end and open @ the other..ie smallest standing wave pattern corresponds to a node @ closed end and an antinode @ open end
This corresponds to SW pattern where L=lambda/4=l/4..l=4*L=0.964m
So v=f*l=488*0.964=470.432m/s
wotu shud do is..repeat with tuning forks of diff frequs an plot res freq vs 1/L
then accur8 v=grad/4..elimin8s need 4 'end correction'

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