Factor Anshuman

Project by :

s Nema XII-F
affecti
ng
the
speed
of
sound
in
variou
s
mediu
ms:
 SNBP’s INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, MANJRI
CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that Anshuman Nema student of

class XII has successfully completed the
Physics Investigatory Project under the guidance of
Ms.Tarmaleshwari Para during the year 2024 - 2025 in
the partial fulfilment of practical examination
conducted by AISSCE, New Delhi.

Date

School Stamp

Principal’s Signature

Signature of Physics Teacher Signature of External Examiner

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I have taken efforts in this project. However, it would

not have been possible without the kind support and
help of many individuals.
I would like to thank my principal Mrs. Sweta Sachwani
Ratnapal and school for providing me with facilities
required to do my project

I am highly indebted to my Physics teacher,

Ms. Tarmaleshwari Para, for her invaluable guidance
which has sustained my efforts in all the stages of this
project work.

I would also like to thank my parents for their continuous

support and
encouragement.

My thanks and appreciation also go to my fellow

classmates and laboratory assistants in developing the
project and to the people who have willingly helped
me out with their abilities.
Aim:

 To determine the speed of sound

in various media (air, water,
metal).
 To analyze the impact of
temperature on the speed of
sound.
 To examine the effect of medium
density on the speed of sound.
 To understand how elasticity of
the medium affects the speed of
sound.
Index:
 Aim

 Introduction

 Theory

 Apparatus

 Experiments

 Observations

 Conclusions

 Precautions

 Bibliography
 What are waves...?
Waves are nothing but the
disturbance created at a particular
point. Any disturbance sets the
periodic motion of a particle in a
medium which is then propagated
ahead using waves. For example,
throwing a stone in a lake causes
oscillations in water molecules at the
point of contact. These oscillating
particles then set the same periodic
oscillations in neighbouring
molecules, and the disturbance is
hence propagated in all directions.
The wave transfer only energy and
not the matter during propagation.
These oscillations or vibrations can
be of two types, transverse and
longitudinal.
 What is sound…?
Sound is an example of a
progressive, longitudinal wave. A
sound wave also called an acoustic
wave is set into motion when
particles or an object is set into
oscillation or vibration. For example,
in the vocal cord in the human
throat, tuning fork, a string of a
guitar, etc., the vibrations set at the
point of disturbance set periodic
patterns of compression and
rarefaction in the connecting
molecules of the medium. For
propagation of these waves, two
molecules must contact each other
for the transfer of energy and
vibration in the forward direction.
Thus sound waves require some
medium, like air or water, and hence
categorized as mechanical waves.
Like other waves, sound waves are
described with the help of different
characteristic parameters. These
include the following terms-
 Amplitude:

In sound waves, since they are

longitudinal waves, the vibrational
motion of particles of the medium is
definite to and fro motion of particles
about their original mean position.
The maximum distance covered by
the vibrating particle in either
direction is known as the amplitude
of the wave. Each molecule of
medium propagating the sound wave
has equal amplitude. Amplitude is
measured in meters in the SI
system.
 Period (T):

The time taken by one particle to

complete one vibration is known as a
period. SI unit of a period is second.
 Frequency (n):

The number of vibrations completed

by a particle in the time of one
second is called the frequency of the
sound wave. For sound waves, the SI
unit of frequency is hertz (Hz).
 Wavelength (λ):

The distance between two

consecutive compression or
rarefactions is known as the
wavelength of the sound wave.
 Velocity (v):

The distance covered by the wave in

one second is called the velocity of
the sound wave.
Theory:
The speed of sound in a medium is
primarily affected by the medium's
temperature, density, and elasticity.

The speed of sound, also known as

sonic speed, is the speed at which
sound waves propagate through
different types of mediums. These
mediums can be solids, liquids, or
gases. The speed of sound is not a
constant value and varies depending
on the properties of the medium it is
travelling through. The three main
factors that influence the speed of
sound are the medium's
temperature, density, and elasticity.

Temperature plays a significant role

in determining the speed of sound.
As the temperature of a medium
increases, the speed of sound also
increases. This is because higher
temperatures provide more kinetic
energy to the particles of the
medium, causing them to vibrate
faster. This increased vibration
allows sound waves to travel more
quickly. For instance, sound travels
faster in warm air than in cold air
because the air molecules in warm
air move more rapidly.

Density is another crucial factor. In

general, the denser the medium, the
slower the speed of sound. This is
because in a denser medium,
particles are packed more closely
together, which can impede the
progress of the sound wave.
However, it's important to note that
this is a general trend and there can
be exceptions. For example, sound
travels faster in water (a denser
medium) than in air (a less dense
medium) due to water's greater
elasticity.

Elasticity refers to a medium's ability

to return to its original shape after
being disturbed. The greater the
elasticity of a medium, the faster
sound will travel through it. This is
because elastic materials can
transmit vibrations more efficiently.
Solids, for example, are generally
more elastic than liquids or gases,
and so sound travels faster in solids
than in liquids or gases.

APPARATUS:
Materials and Equipment
 Tuning fork or signal generator

 Stopwatch

 Thermometer

 Metal rod

 Plastic tube

 Water container

 Microphone and audio analysis

software

 Measuring tape or ruler

Experiments
Experiment 1: Speed of Sound
in Air
Objective: Measure the speed of
sound in air at room temperature.
Materials:
 Tuning fork
 Stopwatch
 Measuring tape
 Thermometer
Procedure:
1. Measure the distance between
two fixed points in a quiet area
(e.g., a long hallway).
2. Strike the tuning fork to
produce a sound and hold it at
one end.
3. Use the stopwatch to measure
the time it takes for the sound to
travel the measured distance.
4. Repeat the experiment three
times for accuracy.
 5. Calculate the speed of sound
using the formula:
Speed=Distance/Time
6. Record the temperature of the
air.
7. Calculate the average speed of
sound from the trials.
8. Compare the results with the
theoretical speed of sound in air
(approximately 343 m/s at 20°C).
Experiment 2: Effect of
Temperature on Speed of
Sound in Air
Objective: Investigate how
temperature affects the speed of
sound in air.
Materials:
 Tuning fork
 Stopwatch
 Measuring tape
 Thermometer
 Heat source and ice
Procedure:
1. Repeat the steps of
Experiment 1 at different
temperatures (use a heat source
to warm the air and ice to cool it).
2. Measure and record the
temperature for each trial.
3. Calculate the speed of sound
for each temperature setting.
4. Plot the speed of sound
against temperature.
5. Analyze the relationship
between temperature and speed
of sound.
Experiment 3: Speed of Sound
in Water
Objective: Measure the speed of
sound in water.
Materials:
 Signal generator
 Microphone
 Water container
  Ruler
Procedure:
1. Fill a container with water and
measure its depth.
2. Place the microphone at one
end of the container and the
signal generator at the other.
3. Use the signal generator to
emit a sound wave and record the
time it takes to travel through the
water using audio analysis
software.
4. Repeat the experiment three
times for accuracy.
5. Calculate the speed of sound
using the formula:
Speed=Distance/Time
6. Calculate the average speed of
sound in water from the trials.
7. Compare the results with the
theoretical speed of sound in
water (approximately 1482 m/s).
Experiment 4: Speed of Sound
in Metal
Objective: Measure the speed of
sound in a metal rod.
Materials:
 Metal rod (e.g., aluminium or
steel)
 Microphone
 Signal generator
 Ruler
Procedure:
1. Measure the length of the
metal rod.
2. Strike the rod to produce a
sound wave and use the
microphone to record the time it
takes for the wave to travel
through the rod.
3. Repeat the experiment three
times for accuracy.
4. Calculate the speed of sound
using the formula:
Speed=Distance/Time
5. Calculate the average speed of
sound in the metal rod from the
trials.
6. Compare the results with the
theoretical speed of sound in
metal (e.g., approximately 5000
m/s for aluminium).
Observations:
Experiment 1: Speed of Sound in
Air
Result:
1. The distance measured in the
hallway: 20 meters.
2. Trials and measured times:
 Trial 1: 0.058 seconds
 Trial 2: 0.060 seconds
 Trial 3: 0.059 seconds
3. Average time:
(0.058+0.060+0.059)/3=0.059 seco
nds.
4. Speed of sound calculation:

≈339 m/s
Speed=Distance/Time=20 m/0.059 s

5.Recorded air temperature: 22°C.

6. Theoretical speed of sound in air
at 22°C: approximately 344 m/s.
Experiment 2: Effect of
Temperature on Speed of Sound in
Air
Result:
1. Measurements at different
temperatures:
a. 10°C: 0.061 s for 20 meters,
Speed = 328 m/s
b. 22°C: 0.059 s for 20 meters,
Speed = 339 m/s
c. 30°C: 0.056 s for 20 meters,
Speed = 357 m/s
2. Plotting the speed of sound
against temperature shows a
positive correlation.
3. The speed of sound in air
increases with temperature.
This is consistent with the
theoretical relationship where the
speed of sound in air increases by
approximately 0.6 m/s for every
1°C rise in temperature.
Experiment 3: Speed of Sound in
Water
Result:
1. Water container depth: 1
meter.
2. Trials and measured times:
3. Trial 1: 0.00068 seconds
4. Trial 2: 0.00067 seconds
5. Trial 3: 0.00069 seconds
6. Average time:
(0.00068+0.00067+0.00069)/3=
0.00068 seconds
7. Speed of sound calculation:
Speed=Distance/Time=1 m/0.000
68 s≈1471 m/s
8. Theoretical speed of sound in
water : approximately 1482 m/s.
Experiment 4: Speed of Sound in
Metal
Result:
 1. Metal rod length: 2 meters.
2. Trials and measured times:
3. Trial 1: 0.00038 seconds
4. Trial 2: 0.00037 seconds
5. Trial 3: 0.00036 seconds
6. Average time:
(0.00038+0.00037+0.00036)/3
=0.00037 seconds
7. Speed of sound calculation:
Speed=Distance/Time=2 m/0.00
037 s≈5405 m/s
8. Theoretical speed of sound in
aluminium: approximately 6420
m/s.
Note: - The experimental speed of
sound in the metal rod (5405 m/s) is
lower than the theoretical value,
possibly due to imperfections in the
metal or experimental setup
inaccuracies.
Conclusion:
The experiments demonstrate
that the speed of sound is
affected by the medium's density,
elasticity, and
temperature.
Air, water, and
metal all exhibit
different sound speeds, with
temperature further influencing
the speed in air. This project
provides practical insights into the
principles governing sound
propagation in various media.
Precautions:
Ensure proper safety
measures are taken when
using heat sources and
handling water to avoid
any accidents.

Bibliography:
 NCERT Class 11 (Waves)
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Speed_of_sound
 https://unacademy.com/
content/upsc/study-material/
physics/factors-affecting-the-
speed-of-sound-in-gases/