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Waves, Sound, and Light: Sound and Music

Sound and Music: Audio Guided Solution

Problem Set SW18, Question 7:

Consider an open-end air column that produces a fundamental frequency of 347 Hz. The speed of sound in the air column depends on temperature and can be calculated using the equation on the Overview page.
a.  What is the length of the air column that will produce this frequency at a temperature of 0°C?
b.  What is the fundamental frequency (in Hertz) at a temperature of 22.7 degrees Celsius?

 



 

Audio Guided Solution

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Habits of an Effective Problem Solver

  • Read the problem carefully and develop a mental picture of the physical situation. If necessary, sketch a simple diagram of the physical situation to help you visualize it.
  • Identify the known and unknown quantities and record in an organized manner, often times they can be recorded on the diagram itself. Equate given values to the symbols used to represent the corresponding quantity (e.g., v = 12.8 m/s, λ = 4.52 m, f = ???).
  • Use physics formulas and conceptual reasoning to plot a strategy for solving for the unknown quantity.
  • Identify the appropriate formula(s) to use.
  • Perform substitutions and algebraic manipulations in order to solve for the unknown quantity.


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