A calculation of the speed of sound by measuring the time interval between a signal and its echo. Includes a brief discussion of the the smallest interval of time your ears can distinguish between distinct sounds. Not to mention several gratuitous 25th Anniversary Commemorative Ferris Bueller references.
Student Objectives
- Predict the speed of sound based on air temperature
- Observe the change in the sound wave pattern when a pulse is reflected from a solid surface
- Determine the time for a sound pulse to travel a measured distance
- Calculate the the speed of sound and amount of error in an experimental value
- Evaluate the effect of a change in experimental technique on the accuracy of your results