AP Physics 2 Exam Question - Sound Waves

A tuning fork with a frequency of 440 Hz is struck and held near an open end of a pipe. The length of the pipe is adjusted until the first resonance is heard. The speed of sound in air is 343 m/s.

1. Calculate the wavelength of the sound wave produced by the tuning fork.

Answer:

The first resonance occurs when the length of the pipe equals one-fourth of the wavelength of the sound wave. The speed of sound in air is given as 343 m/s, and the frequency of the tuning fork is 440 Hz.

The formula relating the speed of sound, frequency, and wavelength is:

v = f * λ

Where:

• v is the speed of sound
• f is the frequency
• λ is the wavelength

Rearranging the equation to solve for wavelength:

λ = v / f

Substituting the given values:

λ = 343 m/s / 440 Hz

Calculating the wavelength:

lambda = 343 / 440 = 0.7795 m

Therefore, the wavelength of the sound wave produced by the tuning fork is approximately 0.7795 meters.