Students were testing their hearing range

AI Thread Summary
Students conducted an experiment to test their hearing range, finding it averages between 25 Hz and 18,000 Hz. To calculate the wavelengths of sound waves at these frequencies, the formula wavelength = velocity / frequency is used, with the speed of sound in air being 343 m/s. The calculations yield a wavelength of approximately 0.019 m for 18,000 Hz and about 13.72 m for 25 Hz. It is important to maintain correct units throughout the calculations, ensuring clarity. The approach and calculations appear to be correct based on the provided method.
Brittykitty
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In an experiment, students were testing their hearing range and found that it averaged about 25 Hz to 18 000 Hz. What are the wavelengths of sound waves producing these frequencies in air where the speed of sound is 343 m/s?

Would I use the formula

wavelength= velocity/ frequency?

wavelength = 343ms/25hz

and

wavelength = 343ms/18000hz ??
 
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Brittykitty said:
In an experiment, students were testing their hearing range and found that it averaged about 25 Hz to 18 000 Hz. What are the wavelengths of sound waves producing these frequencies in air where the speed of sound is 343 m/s?

Would I use the formula

wavelength= velocity/ frequency?

wavelength = 343ms/25hz

and

wavelength = 343ms/18000hz ??

You're basically using the right formation, but be careful to carry your units along correctly. You've written ms a couple of time where you mean m/s.

It's helpful to put units in square brackets (at least for me), and do math on the units at the same time you do math on the numbers. Cancel anyplace you get the same unit on the top and bottom of a division. So your equation could look more clear like this:

wavelength [m] = 343 [m/s] / 18000 [Hz] = 343 [m/s] / 18000 [1/s], etc...
 


berkeman said:
You're basically using the right formation, but be careful to carry your units along correctly. You've written ms a couple of time where you mean m/s.

It's helpful to put units in square brackets (at least for me), and do math on the units at the same time you do math on the numbers. Cancel anyplace you get the same unit on the top and bottom of a division. So your equation could look more clear like this:

wavelength [m] = 343 [m/s] / 18000 [Hz] = 343 [m/s] / 18000 [1/s], etc...

Thank you =) so...

wavelength [m] =343[m/s] / 18000 [Hz] =0.019m

and wavelength [m] =343[m/s] / 25 [Hz] =13.72m

does that look right to you?
 


I didn't check the calculations, but the approach seems correct. Good work.
 
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