How To Measure Sound Waves

Question 1

Stage 1

Answer 1

Person B starts timing when she sees person A clash cymbals together

Question 2

Stage 2

Answer 2

Person B stops timing when she hears sound of cymbals clashing

Question 3

Stage 3

Answer 3

Then calculate speed of sound waves by dividing the distance travelled by the time taken

Question 4

Problems with the experiment

Answer 4

• every person has a different reaction time
• takes a fraction of a second between hearing sound and stopping timer

Question 5

How to reduce the problem of different reaction times

Answer 5

Having a large number of observers with timers
= take all results and discard any anomalies
= then calculate the mean value

Question 6

How to prevent problem of short time of cymbals clashing

Answer 6

• increasing distance between person A and person B