Sound Assignment

Georgia Perimeter College

Getting Started:

  1. Read your course notes on __.
  2. Read your textbook, Chapter _, p. _ for additional information.
  3. Open the web pages listed in the web links section of the course outlines to see the interactive java tutorials, animations, illustrations, and additional information on this topic.

Speed of sound activity from http://www.nasaexplores.com/show_912_student_st.php?id=021219145024

Materials:
 
Stopwatch
Tape measure with meters (or meter stick)
Masking tape
Hammer
Metal lid or pan

Procedure:
 
1. Choose an open area outside.
2. Measure off a distance of 100 meters in a straight line, and mark each end with masking tape.
3. At least one or two students should stand at each end of the 100-meter line.
4. The student at the beginning of the line will create a loud, short noise by banging a hammer on a metal lid or pan.
5. The student at the other end of the line will start the stopwatch precisely when he/she sees the metal lid being struck.
6. The student will stop the watch precisely when he/she hears the noise.
7.  Record the value in seconds in the table below.
8.  Repeat steps 4 through 6 for three additional trials (or a total of four trials).
9.  The students at each end of the line should change places or change roles. The student who was producing the sound will now record the speed of sound with the stopwatch.

Observations:

Trial Time
(sec)		 Time (sec) after switching roles
1
    
2
    
3
    
4
    


Questions:

1.  Average the four times, and calculate the speed of sound by dividing the distance by the average time.

    Average time = _____________ sec

    Distance/Average time = 100 m/Average time = ___________________________ m/sec


2.  What factors might have caused variations in the times recorded for the different trials?

 

3.  Is it possible for sound to travel through a steel bar? Explain.

 

4.  Explain how sound waves through differently through solids, liquids, or gases.

 

5.  In early movies, the sounds spoken by the actors on the screen did not match the movement of their lips, but instead lagged behind. Based on this experiment, suggest a possible explanation for this.

 

6.  When fireworks burst in the sky, will you hear the explosion or see the color first? Explain.

Click here to see a fireworks movie, courtesy of Miranda Gore, September 2006.

 

 

7.  Why would a railroad worker put his ear against a railroad track?

 

8. Make a list of situations where the time delay in sound reaching the listener could be confusing, such as a sporting event.

 

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Page created by Pamela J.W. Gore
Georgia Perimeter College,
Clarkston, GA

Page created December 19, 2006