Palm Pipe Lab

             

                                                   

       ~ This week we performed the palm pipe lab that allowed us to analyze closed end air columns.

- To produce a musical note, we, the students, had to hit one end of the pipe on our hands. This allowed a sound wave to occur. However, since it is a closed end air column, there can only be odd-numbered harmonics. If there were even numbered harmonics, there would be an anti-node at the open ended part of the pipe. In woodwind instruments, the fundamental is 1/4 the wavelength whereas the fundamental on a stringed instrument will be 1/2 the wavelength. 

-The length of the pipe determines the type of note that we hear. I observed that the longer the pipe, the lower the note and vice versa. A longer pipe will create a longer wavelength, decreasing the frequency of the wave. The shorter pipe will create a shorter wavelength, increasing the frequency of the wave. 

~Using a fork, we attempted to try and calculate the frequency of our fork when we hit it to create a note. After hitting it, we placed it next to the microphone for data. Our labquest produced a chart that had many frequencies playing at the same time. However, one frequency had the highest amplitude. Since it had the highest, it would be the one that was heard.