Help w/ determing the speed of light in marshmallow experiment

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the speed of light using a marshmallow experiment, where distances between hot spots in microwaved marshmallows are measured. Participants are advised to use the relationship between wavelength, frequency, and wave speed to derive the speed of light, with a given frequency of 2,450 MHz. To find the percentage of error, users are directed to a resource that explains how to compute it based on an accepted value. The experiment is based on a method described by Robert Stauffer, Jr. in "The Physics Teacher." Understanding these calculations will enable the user to complete their trials successfully.
lavendermoon
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Homework Statement


need to know calculated value for the speed of light (m/sec) the following is what I have been able to do, if I can have a few examples of how to solve for the above and the percentage of error I will be set.


Homework Equations



distance 10 cm, 12cm, 9 cm
wavelength 20cm, 24cm, 18cm
frequency 2,450 MHz

Please show me how to get the value for the speed of light and the percentage error for each of these these are my results for the first trial I have two more trials but will be able to do them If I can get help with these, Thank you

The Attempt at a Solution

 
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lavendermoon said:

Homework Equations



distance 10 cm, 12cm, 9 cm
wavelength 20cm, 24cm, 18cm
frequency 2,450 MHz

What do these quantities mean? What is a "marshmallow" experiment?
 
Tom Mattson said:
What do these quantities mean? What is a "marshmallow" experiment?

I had to nuke some marshmallows and measure the distances between the hot spots. then use the distances with the corrosponding wavelength (2x the distances), and the microwave frequency (2,450 MHz) to find the speed of light (m/sec) and then find the percentage of error. The experiment comes from Rober Stauffer, Jr. "Finding the speed of light with marshmallows" The Physics Teacher, vol 35, April 1997
 
lavendermoon said:
I had to nuke some marshmallows and measure the distances between the hot spots.

That makes much more sense now!

then use the distances with the corrosponding wavelength (2x the distances), and the microwave frequency (2,450 MHz) to find the speed of light (m/sec) and then find the percentage of error.

For percent error, see the following page.

http://www.ric.edu/faculty/bgilbert/s3pcerr.htm

Notice it makes reference to "accepted value". To compute the accepted value of the wavelength, use the accepted value of the speed of light, together with the frequency you were given. Note that you must know how wavelength, frequency, and wave speed are related in order to do this.
 
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Ok, I will give this a try, thank you very much


Tom Mattson said:
That makes much more sense now!



For percent error, see the following page.

http://www.ric.edu/faculty/bgilbert/s3pcerr.htm

Notice it makes reference to "accepted value". To compute the accepted value of the wavelength, use the accepted value of the speed of light, together with the frequency you were given. Note that you must know how wavelength, frequency, and wave speed are related in order to do this.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

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