Speed of Sound LAB

U.S. Navy F/A-18 approaching the sound barrier. The white halo is formed by condensed water droplets which result from the shockwave shedding from the aircraft (see Prandtl-Glauert Singularity).^[1][2]

Using sound tubes to measure the speed of sound in air

Use a sound tube-water-tuning fork system to measure the speed of sound in air.  For best results you should do trials for at least 4 different tuning fork frequencies, and use a graph of these data to generate a value for the speed of sound in air. In your write up you should include a schematic of how a standing wave resonates in a sound tube for the fundamental frequency.  In addition, please include your data table of measurements, and extensively show your calculations for the speed of sound in air.  You should be able to include this on one page.  

IB Assessment: Data Collection and Processing, Conclusion and Evaluation