Sound Waves - Lab Report Example

Introduction Sound waves occur due to variations in pressure in the air and typically perceived as pitch, which is the frequency of the prevailing wave. Nevertheless, most sounds do not solely exist as a single frequency but due to the superposition of numerous frequencies.Objective The primary purpose of this lab is mainly to measure the wavelength of the sounds waves provided a particular frequency. The frequency and corresponding determined will permit determination of the velocity of the sound within the air.

Materials A computer with Audacity installed; A USB microphone and some musical instruments to analyzeTheory The lab report utilized the concept of Fourier Transforms in the investigation of the sound waves. Fourier Transform essentially incorporates a time series of pressure intensity in the determination of the perfect pitched frequencies summation. It also incorporates the level of the amplitude to recreate the original sound. Series of data aids in telling the amplitude of the sound as a function of time to a corresponding series data that determines the amplitude of the frequencies for recreation of the sound.

Procedure1. Open up Audacity that is under the Sound and Video from the underlying main menu2. Click Edit then preferences for the first time recorded. Then click on the devices and choose the recording device. Choose the USB microphone AK5370: USB AUDIO3. Press the record button then record the sample4. In order to attain Fourier Transform, click Analyze then Plot Spectrum, which opens a new window. Click on the prevailing size and choose the highest value possible, which is 163845. After clicking the biggest value, click on the export to export the data to the text file.

The text file possesses two columns of Frequency( Hz) and Level ( Db)6. Record the turning fork of the known frequency for the calibration coupled with the supplementary sound to be analyzed. Then attain the Fourier Transform of the underlying two signals7. There should be two text files possessing Fourier Transform of the turning fork and the corresponding single supplementary soundResultsThe octave plot of sound wavesDiscussion Based on the graphs collected the ambiguity within the time durations and frequencies measured for diverse sound waves emanated from the errors in the measurement Logger Pro.

The percentage error amidst the tuning fork frequency and corresponding measured frequencies was less that 1%, which is relatively safe. The percentage error amidst the printed frequency and the measured frequency was 0.58% as depicted by the sine curve. Undertaking the curve fit is relatively more precise measurement method regarding finding the frequency since it is not subjective to many of individual’s errors.Conclusion The concept of Fourier Transforms is fundamental in the examination of the sound waves.

Moreover, it integrates a time series of pressure intensity in the resolving the perfect pitched frequencies summation. Series of data display amplitude of the sound as a function of time to a corresponding series data that determines the amplitude of the frequencies for recreation of the sound. There was certain error in the lab experiment that mainly occurs due to the individual’s point of view of the underlying maximum intensity, within is not fundamental to other individuals.Work citedHorton, Michael.

Take-home Physics: 65 High-Impact, Low-Cost Labs. Arlington, Va: NSTA Press, 2009. Print.