Calculating Air Temperature from Frequency of Sound

AI Thread Summary
To calculate the air temperature from the frequency of sound, the speed of sound must first be determined using the correct wavelength. The initial attempt incorrectly assumed a temperature of 20°C, leading to an unrealistic temperature calculation of -31.13°C. After recalculating the wavelength based on the closed column of air, the speed of sound was found to be 346.8 m/s. Using this speed, the temperature was recalculated to be approximately 24.7°C, which is outside the initially suggested range of 10 to 20°C. The discussion emphasizes the importance of accurate calculations in determining air temperature from sound frequency.
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Hi!
Q: A column of air length 36cm is closed at both ends, resonates to as sound of third lowest frequceny of 1445Hz. Calculate the air temperature given that the reasonable temperature falls between 10 and 20 C??

Here is what I tried:
Given T= 20 ( 30-10= 20)
Required: vs & T
Analysis: vs= 332m/s+T(0.60m/s C) & T= vs-332/0.60
Solution: vs= 332m/s+(20C)(0.60 C)
= 332m/s+12m/s
= 344m/s
now we the speed, & we can find the temperature:
=344m/s-332m/s/0.60m/s C
= 12/0.60
= 20
So the air temperature is 20 C.
I would really appericate if sum1 could help.
Thanks alot.
 
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Hi! You have to solve the speed of sound from a measurement first. You can't just just decide that the temperature is 20 C! The air column should give you the speed of sound, which you can then use to calculate the temperature.
 
Given: f= 1445 Hz.
Lambda= 0.36m (36 cm is converted)
Required: v and vs
Analysis: v=f(lambda)
Solution: v= (1445Hz)(0.36)
V= 520.2m/s
Now we can find the temperature:
Analysis: T= vs-332m/s
0.60
= 520.2-332/0.6
= -31.13 is the temperature is it correct??
 
Does the speed of sound increase or decrease when temperature increases?
 
speed increases when the temperature increases
 
Speed of sound increases as temperature increases.
 
That's right. Then you can answer yourself if your answer is right or not :)
 
Im still not sure.Confused??
 
520 m/s is much larger than the speed of sound in room temperature, therefore you'd expect a much higher temperature as well. -31 Celcius is well below room temperature, so it is clearly wrong. It is not even in your 'reasonable' range of 10-20 C.

First you should calculate the speed of sound again. What is the distance that the sound wave travels in one oscillation? It's not 36 cm.
 
  • #10
Given: f= 1445 Hz.
Length= 0.36m (36 cm is converted)
Required: v and vs
Analysis: v=f(lambda)
Solution:
Lambda=2l/n
=2(.36m)3
=0.24m
v= (1445Hz)(0.24)
V= 346.8m/s
Now we can find the temperature:
Analysis: T= vs-332m/s
0.60
= 346.8-332/0.6
= 24.7
is it correct now?
 
  • #11
Help please!Is the above Answer correct?
 
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