Substituting an Inexpensive Function Generator for the Pulsed Laser in the Experiment “Laser Measurement of the Speed of Sound in Gases”

Epstein, Mark G.; Laszlo, Matthew W.; Mayer, Steven G.

doi:10.1021/ed100107t

Cited by 1 publication

(3 citation statements)

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“…These data are comparable to those obtained in previous undergraduate laboratory experiments. 1,2 The experimental accuracy could be attributed in part to the 1.480 m distance between the two microphones. This length provides a nominal travel time of approximately 4 ms for sound to propagate through atmospheric air.…”

Section: ■ Results and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…al 1 and Epstein et. al 2 presented a modern twist on a standard undergraduate physical chemistry experiment measuring the speed of sound in a gas. Traditional experiments measured the nodal distance in a Kundt's tube.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…al and Epstein et. al presented a modern twist on a standard undergraduate physical chemistry experiment measuring the speed of sound in a gas. Traditional experiments measured the nodal distance in a Kundt’s tube. − The experiment described herein was designed with limited resources and resulted in accuracy comparable to modern experiments.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Measuring the Speed of Sound through Gases Using Nitrocellulose

et al. 2015

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Measuring the heat capacity ratios, γ, of gases either through adiabatic expansion or sound velocity is a well-established physical chemistry experiment. The most accurate experiments depend on an exact determination of sound origin, which necessitates the use of lasers or a wave generator, where time zero is based on an electrical trigger. Other experiments use loudspeakers as the sound source, which eliminates the ability to accurately measure time zero of sound generation. To date, experimental heat capacity ratio data have been reported for measurements at room temperature. We have designed an apparatus to directly measure the speed of sound generated as a result of nitrocellulose ignition via two microphones. Our experimental design also provides the ability to measure the speed of sound at various temperatures and thus determine the heat capacity ratio as a function of temperature. When implemented in a junior-level physical chemistry laboratory course, students learned to use equipment with which they were unfamiliar, such as home-built ignition circuits, a vacuum pump, thermocouple temperature and vacuum gauges, gas cylinders, and an oscilloscope. Students used the data to determine the speed of sound and heat capacity ratio through nitrogen, carbon dioxide, atmospheric air, and argon gases both at 298 K and approximately 253 K. Error analyses of the experimental speed of sound and heat capacity ratio using percent error and propagation of error were performed to ensure a high level of accuracy and precision.

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Section: ■ Results and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%