Abstract
In this report, the speed of sound in a Rubens tube is determined by varying the frequency of a tone applied to the exterior of one of the tube's ends and measuring the wavelength of the standing waves produced by the release of the flammable gas through a line of holes at the top of the tube. We use the Phyphox application to determine the tone frequency causing standing waves across the tube and make approximate measurements of the wavelength at these frequencies with a meter stick. The wave relationship tells us that only the wavelength and frequency of a wave are required to determine its speed so, with this data, we are able to determine the speed of sound in the propane gas inside the tube. Through our method, we find this wave speed to be around 210 +/- 5 m/s, which is 18% smaller than the currently accepted value.
