In this paper we investigate the speed of sound in air as a function of temperature using a simple and inexpensive apparatus. For this experiment it is essential that the appropriate end corrections be taken into account. In a recent paper1 the end corrections for 2-in i.d. (5.04-cm) PVC pipes open at both ends were investigated. The air column resonance was excited using a paddle as in Blue Man Group® pipes.2 The “open end” end correction is given by 0.6133r in accordance with recent experiments3 and detailed theoretical calculations.4 This correction amounted to 1.56 cm for the 2-in PVC pipe used. However, the paddle end correction was found to be influenced by the transient position of the paddle during the excitation process. The paddle end correction was found to be 1.94 cm.

1.
M. E.
Bacon
and
Steven
Torok
, “
An experimental investigation of the end effects for Blue Man Group® pipes
,”
Phys. Teach.
49
,
152
154
(
March 2011
).
3.
Matthew
Krumm
and
Sam
Matteson
, “
Frequency dependence of end corrections for a pipe of circular cross section
,” 2009 Spring Meeting of the Texas Section of the APS, AAPT, and SPS meeting, Abstract: M3.00003,
April 2–4 (2009)
. Also private communication Sam Matteson, September 2009.
4.
Harold
Levine
and
Julian
Schwinger
, “
On the radiation of sound from an unflanged circular pipe
,”
Phys. Rev.
73
(
4
),
383
406
(
1948
).
See also
N. H.
Fletcher
and
T. D.
Rossing
,
The Physics of Musical Instruments
, 2nd ed. (
Springer
,
New York
,
1999
).
5.
S.
Valasco
,
F. L.
Roman
,
A.
Gonzalez
, and
J. A.
White
, “
A computer assisted experiment for the measurement of the temperature dependence of the speed of sound in air
,”
Am. J. Phys.
72
,
276
279
(
Feb. 2004
);
Rand S.
Worland
and
D. David
Wilson
, “
The speed of sound in air as a function of temperature
,”
Phys. Teach.
39
,
53
57
(
Jan. 1999
);
and
P. J.
Ouseph
and
James J.
Link
, “
Variation of speed of sound in air with temperature
,”
Am. J. Phys.
52
(
7
),
661
(
July 1984
).
6.
Vernier Software, 13979 SW Millikan Way, Beaverton, OR 97005; www.vernier.com.
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