SOUND WAVES AND BEATS

OBJECTIVES:

Measure the frequency and period of sound waves from tuning forks
Measure the amplitude of sound waves from tuning forks
Observe beats between the sounds of two tuning forks

MATERIALS:

Computer
Logger Pro
Vernier Computer Interface
Vernier Microphone
2 Tuning forks / Electronic Keyboard

PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS:
1. Why are instruments tuned before being played as a group? In which
ways do musicians tune their instruments?
Instruments have a tendency to change pitch slightly due to factors like moisture
and temperature; hence they are tuned before being played by listening or using a
reed tuner type device. This is especially important in group play because
differences are easier to compare than when played alone. Musicians tune their
instruments by adjusting tensions or tube lengths which changes their instruments
pitch. These adjustments are made while playing and listening to a reference tone
(e.g. A-440 Hz).
2. Given that sound waves consist of series of air pressure increases
and decreases, what would happen if an air pressure increase from
one sound wave was located at the same place and time as a
pressure decrease from another of the same amplitude?

The algebraic sum is zero. An increase in air pressure from one sound
wave will cancel out pressure decrease from another of the same
amplitude.

PROCEDURE
1. Connect the Vernier Microphone to Channel 1 of the computer
Interface. Turn on the external speakers for your computer
2. Start Logger Pro. Open the 32 Sound Waves file in the Physics with
Vernier folder. The computer will take data for just 0.05 s to display the
rapid pressure variations of sound waves. The vertical axis corresponds
to the variation in air pressure and the units are arbitrary. Click
to center waveforms on the time axis. Resize the Program window so
that it occupies roughly the bottom of your screen.

3. Open the Sounds folder. Double click on the Pure_Tone_440 Hz file.

This should play the sound file in windows media player. Resize the
media player window so it occupies the top of your screen:
PART I: SIMPLE WAVEFORMS
4. Play the pure tone, hold the Microphone Close to the Computer Speaker
and click
. The data should be sinusoidal in form, similar to the
sample on the front page of this lab. If the waveform appears too small,
turn up the speaker volume and repeat.
5. Note the appearance of the graph. Count and record the number of
complete cycles shown after the first peak in your data.
6. Drag the mouse between the first and last peaks of the waveform. Read
the time interval t, and divide it by the number of cycles to determine
the period of the pure tone waveform.
7. Calculate the frequency of the tuning fork in Hz and record it in your data
table 1.
8. Determine amplitude of the waveform. Click on Examine button and
move the mouse across the graph. Note the maximum and minimum
values for the offset pressure. Calculate the difference in offset pressure
maximum and minimum values, y.
9. Calculate the amplitude of the wave by taking half of the difference y.
Record the value in your data table 2.
10. Paste the graph below:
Graph of Pressure vs time for a 440 Hz Pure Tone:

11. Save your data by choosing Store Latest Run from the Experiment menu.
Hide the run by choosing Hide Data Set from the Data menu and selecting
Run 1 to hide.
12. Double click on the Pure_Tone_512Hz file. Repeat Steps 4 10 for the
second frequency. Store the latest run. It will be stored as Run 2. Then
hide Run 2.
Graph of Pressure vs time for a 512 Hz Pure Tone:

PART II BEATS
13. Two pure tones with different frequencies sounded at once will create the
phenomenon known as beats. Sometimes the waves will reinforce one
another and other times they will combine to a reduced intensity. This
happens on a regular basis because of the fixed frequency of each tone.
To observe beats, Double click on the Combined_440Hz_512Hz file and
listen for the combined sound. If the beats are slow enough, you should
be able to hear a variation in intensity. If the beats are rapid a single
rough-sounding tone is heard.
14. Collect data while the two tones are sounding. You should see a time
variation of the sound amplitude. If the waveform appears too small, turn
up the speaker volume and repeat. When you get a clear waveform,
choose Store Latest Run from the Experiment menu. The beat waveform
will be stored as Run 3. Paste this graph below.
Graph of Pressure vs time for combined 440 Hz and 512 Hz tones:

15. The pattern will be complex, with a slower variation of amplitude on top of
a more rapid variation. Ignoring the more rapid variation and
concentrating in the overall pattern, count the number of beat cycles after
the first maximum and record it in the data table. (Note: the picture
below shows three beat cycles selected).

16.

As you did before, find the time interval for the selected complete
beats cycles using the mouse. Divide the difference, t, by the number of
cycles to determine the period of beats (in s). Calculate the beat
frequency in Hz from the beat period. Record these values in your data
table 4. Hide Run 3.

DATA TABLE
Part I Simple Waveforms
Table 1
Tuning
Fork or
Note

Number
of cycles

t (s)

Period
(s)

Calculated
frequency
(Hz)

18

0.04703

0.002613

382.79

20

0.04720

0.00236

423.73

Table 2
Tuning Fork

Amplitude
(V)

0.136

0.130

Table 3
Tuning Fork
or Note

Parameter A
(V)

Parameter B
(s-1)

f = B/(2)
(Hz)

0.03196

2409

383.4

0.07199

2681

426.7

Part II Beats
Table 4
Number of
beat cycles

t
(s)

Beat
(s)

Calculated
beat frequency
(Hz)

0.6851

0.0228

43.8

ANALYSIS
Part I Simple Waveforms
1. In the following analysis, you will see how well a sine function model fits
the data. The displacement of the particles in the medium carrying a

periodic wave can be modeled with a sinusoidal function. Your textbook

may have an expression resembling this one:
y A sin 2 f t
In the case of sound, a longitudinal wave, the y refers to the change in air
pressure that makes up the wave. A is the amplitude of the wave (a
measure of loudness), and f is the frequency. Time is represented with t
and the sine function requires a factor of 2 when evaluated in radians.
Logger Pro will fit the function y = A * sin(B*t + C) + D to experimental
data. A, B, C, and D are parameters (numbers) that Logger Pro reports
after a fit. This function is more complicated than the textbook model, but
the basic sinusoidal form is the same. Comparing terms, listing the
textbook models terms first, the amplitude A corresponds to the fit term
A, and 2 f corresponds to the parameter B. The time is represented by t,
Logger Pros horizontal axis. The new parameters C and D shift the fitted
function left-right and up-down, respectively and are necessary to obtain
a good fit. Only the parameters A and B are important to this experiment.
In particular, the numeric value of B allows you to find the frequency f
using B = 2 f. Choose Show Data Set from the Data menu and select
Run 1 to show the waveform from the first tone. Keep the other runs
hidden. Click the Curve Fit button, , and select Run 1 from the list of
columns. Select A*sin(B*t +C) + D (Sine) from the list of models. Click
to perform the curve fit.
2. Click
to return to the graph. The model and its parameters appear in
a floating box in the upper left corner of the graph. Record the parameters
A and B of the model in your data table 3.
3. Since B corresponds to 2 f in the curve fit, use the curve fit information
to determine the frequency. Enter the value in your data table 3. Compare
this frequency to the frequency calculated in table 1. Which would you
expect to be more accurate? Why?
I would expect that the frequency value in table 3
would be
more accurate as it has been calculated using parameters from
the curve fit performed by Logger Pro software so it reflects the
curve more accurately
4. Compare the parameter A (table 3) to the amplitude (table 2) of the
waveform. Run 1 and show Run 2, the waveform of the second tone.
Repeat Steps 1 4 for Run 2.
Part II Beats
6. Is there any way the two individual frequencies can be combined to give the beat frequency
you measure earlier? Compare your conclusion with information given in your text book
Yes the two individual frequencies when combined at a phase
difference of would cancel each other to give the beat
frequency we measured earlier. This is in agreement with the text
given on superimposition and interference of waves given in the
text book.

RESONANCE IN AIR COLUMNS

Procedure:
With the overflow container in its highest position fill the resonance tune
to approximately 15 cm from the top by pouring water into the overflow.
Strike the tuning fork with a rubber hammer. Hold the tuning fork about 2
cm from the top of the tube with the end of the tuning fork directly above
the tube opening. Hold the fork so that the fork vibrates vertically. Slowly
lower the overflow container and listen for an increase in sound. Locate
the position of the water for maximum sound and record on the
accompanying table. Continue lowering the overflow container until you
find a second position of resonance from the increase in sound (the
increased sound will not be as loud as in the first position of resonance so
you will have to listen carefully). It will help you to find the second
position if you calculate where it should be (three-quarters of a
wavelength as compared to the first position at one-quarter of a
wavelength). Repeat with the other turning forks.

Frequency

First Position (m)

Second Position (m)

512 Hz

0.16

0.24

426.7 Hz

0.19

0.24

384 Hz

0.18

0.25

Temperature of the classroom = 23 C

Intermod
al
Distance

Waveleng
th (m)

V from
Wavelen
gth

V from
Temperat
ure

% Error

Frequenc
y

512 Hz

0.08

0.16

327.68

344.8

5.09

426.7 Hz

0.05

0.12

204.82

344.8

50.94

384 Hz

0.07

0.14

215.04

344.8

46.36

Questions:

1. What is the lowest frequency to which resonance tube used in

the experiment will respond for a first position of resonance?
L = 80 ; f=V/4/m = 107.8 Hz

m1f1=-v/4
2. In what way would the experiment vary if the temperature in
the room were lower?
Temperature of the room affects the velocity of sound
V = 331+0.6 T
Velocity of sound in turn would increase the frequency at which
resonances would occur and the corresponding intermodal distances.