Speed+of+Sound+Lab


 * Product descriptor for Speed of Sound Lab Report**

**Sections needed:**

 * Materials
 * Data table
 * Sample calculations
 * Analysis

//Data Table://

 * Include all data taken
 * Include formulas for each calculation in the cell
 * Remember:
 * Title
 * Appropriate headers (units)
 * Borders
 * **Title this: lastname.SoSdata in Google Docs. Share with Ms. Wooten.**

//Sample Calculations//
For one trial, show how you determine:
 * Speed based on wavelength
 * Speed of sound based on temperature (theoretical value)
 * Percent error for speed of sound
 * [[image:perc_diff.png width="220" height="42"]]

//CP Analysis: Answer these questions//
4. An observer sees a lightning flash from a distant thunderstorm and 12 seconds later hears a sound. If the temperature of the air is 20° C, how far from the storm is the observer? (Assume that light travels instantaneously.) This is a problem.
 * 1) Write an explanation of your % error in **sentences**.
 * ***** Report your range and/or average of your percent differences.
 * Why did you get an error at all?
 * What could cause a difference?
 * 1) Define and explain __//resonance//__ and indicate where in our lab that principle was utilized.
 * 2) Sound waves travel in water at about four times their speed in air. When sound waves leave air and enter water, the equation [[image:http://docs.google.com/File?id=dgxzb87r_7056gg87wfw_b width="11" height="11" align="absmiddle"]]= [[image:http://docs.google.com/File?id=dgxzb87r_706d4xdk442_b width="15" height="19" align="absmiddle"]][[image:http://docs.google.com/File?id=dgxzb87r_707trgr35d2_b width="14" height="15" align="absmiddle"]] tells us that since [[image:http://docs.google.com/File?id=dgxzb87r_7056gg87wfw_b width="11" height="11" align="absmiddle"]] increases, either [[image:http://docs.google.com/File?id=dgxzb87r_706d4xdk442_b width="15" height="19" align="absmiddle"]] or [[image:http://docs.google.com/File?id=dgxzb87r_707trgr35d2_b width="14" height="15" align="absmiddle"]] or both must increase. From your experiments with water waves, can you tell which changes or if both change? This is asking: if sound increases in speed if it goes from air to water, what will happen to frequency and wavelength. You can answer this in two ways in sentences.
 * Research what happens to wavelength and frequency when a sound is in water
 * A possible helpful site for this is: __[]__
 * Provide an explanation for an increase in wavelength, frequency or both
 * Devise an experiment that would test whether frequency and/or wavelength will increase. Write a short overview of this experiment and explain how it would answer the question.
 * **Should be answered as a** sample calculation **with knowns, unknowns, etc.**
 * __The analysis should be printed to turn in.__

**//HC Analysis//**
Address the following points in your analysis **//(2 pages double-spaced)//**
 * Write a statement of your results. Report the speed of sound you determined. What were your percent errors? Were they acceptable? Analyze your major sources of error in relation to your results.
 * What would you do differently to get better results?
 * What would be areas of further inquiry? What deserves further research?
 * Write an explanation of relevant principles and how the lab provided examples of these principles.
 * Speed of sound and temperature
 * Characteristics of the medium on speed of sound (ex. density)
 * Resonance

__The analysis should be printed to turn in.__ __**__