How Can Resonance Experiment Accuracy Be Improved?

[only_me]

Homework Statement

I have carried out an experiment, placing tuning forks of different frequencies above a pipe in a cylinder of water to form a closed end pipe, and then recording the lengths at which resonance occurs, to find out fundamental frequecnies.

Homework Equations

I have calculated the average speed of sound from these collected results, and compared it to the actual value of the speed of sound to work out percentage, and need to find ways of improving the experiment.

The Attempt at a Solution

One of the errors is due to me not including end correction. Another source of error is human judgement, but I don't understand how I could improve this experiment to reduce human judgment. Also, apart from human error and random error, are there any other sources of error I have not considered/?

Thanks for any help/

 

[anathema]

Thank you for sharing your experiment and data with us. It is great to see that you are taking the time to analyze your results and think about ways to improve your experiment. I have a few suggestions that may help you reduce the sources of error you have identified and potentially uncover other sources of error as well.

First, let's address the issue of end correction. This is an important factor to consider in your experiment, as it can significantly affect your results. One way to improve your experiment is to use a longer pipe, so that the end correction becomes a smaller proportion of the overall length. This will help reduce the impact of this error on your results.

Next, let's consider the issue of human judgement. One way to reduce this source of error is to have multiple people measure the resonance lengths and then take the average of their results. This can help minimize the impact of individual variations in judgement. You could also consider using a digital measurement tool, such as a ruler with a digital readout, to improve the accuracy of your measurements.

In addition to these sources of error, there may be other factors that could affect your results. For example, the temperature of the water could impact the speed of sound, so it is important to control for this variable. You could also consider using different materials for the pipe, such as metal or plastic, to see if this affects the resonance lengths and therefore the calculated speed of sound.

Overall, it is important to carefully consider all potential sources of error and take steps to minimize their impact on your results. Keep up the good work in analyzing your experiment and seeking ways to improve it. Good luck!

 

[nlightner]

It is great to see that you have conducted an experiment to study the relationship between frequency and resonance in a closed end pipe. The use of tuning forks and water in a cylinder is a classic and effective method for understanding this concept. Your approach of comparing the calculated average speed of sound to the actual value is also a good way to assess the accuracy of your results.

You have identified two potential sources of error in your experiment: not accounting for end correction and human judgement. To reduce the error due to end correction, you could try using a longer pipe or using a more precise measurement technique. As for human judgement, it is important to have a consistent and objective way of determining when resonance occurs. This could involve using a digital tool to measure the length of the pipe or having multiple people make the same judgement to ensure consistency.

In addition to these sources of error, there are also other factors that could affect your results. For example, variations in temperature, humidity, and air pressure can all impact the speed of sound and thus affect your measurements. To minimize these effects, it is important to conduct the experiment in a controlled environment and take measurements at the same conditions each time.

Overall, it seems like you have a good understanding of the concepts of frequency and wavelength and have conducted a thorough experiment. To further improve your results, you could consider repeating the experiment multiple times and taking an average to reduce random error. You could also try using different materials or varying the length of the pipe to see how these factors affect the results. Good luck with your further investigations!