During a laboratory activity, a tuning fork of unknown frequency is struck successively above two different media.
• In air the distance between successive compressions produced by the fork is measured to be 0.65m.
• In kerosene the distance between successive compressions is measured to be 0.50m and the speed of sound in kerosene is known to be 1320m/s.
Answer the following questions.
(a) Calculate the speed of sound in air using the above data.
(b) Determine the frequency of the tuning fork.
(c) The same fork is now taken to a mountain laboratory where the speed of sound in air is 320m/s. Predict the wavelength of the sound produced there.
(d) Explain why the frequency of the tuning fork is considered to be the same in all three places even though the speed and wavelength change.