The speed of sound was experimentally determined through various gases and under several temperature conditions using a machined vacuum apparatus designed using SolidWorks. Nitrocellulose, a low order explosive, was synthesized and ignited to generate the sound-wave. A pair of microphones, in combination with custom made amplifiers and a Tektronix TDS 210 oscilloscope, measured and collected the speed of sound data. Measurements were collected in Argon, Carbon Dioxide, Helium, Nitrogen, and atmospheric gases at ambient and reduced pressure (760 to 1.0x10-4 torr), as well as ambient and several reduced temperatures (25 to -20 �C). The vacuum tube was cooled using liquid nitrogen in combination with a layer of pipe insulation. This data was compared to previously reported literature values to confirm accuracy. Results from the aforementioned experiments will be presented.

Physical chemistry laboratory experiment: Measuring the speed of sound using nitrocellulose

245th National Meeting (2013)

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