Photo AI
Four students and their teacher do an experiment to measure the speed of sound in air - Edexcel - GCSE Physics Combined Science - Question 4 - 2020 - Paper 1
Question 4
Four students and their teacher do an experiment to measure the speed of sound in air. The teacher stands at a distance and fires a starting pistol into the air. Th... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Four students and their teacher do an experiment to measure the speed of sound in air - Edexcel - GCSE Physics Combined Science - Question 4 - 2020 - Paper 1
Step 1
Calculate the difference between the students' value and the accepted value as a percentage of the accepted value.
Answer
To calculate the percentage difference, we use the formula:
Substituting the values:
Calculating the difference:
The final result shows a percentage difference of approximately 30%.
Step 2
Explain why their times vary so much.
Answer
There are several factors that could contribute to the variation in measured times:
-
Reaction Time: Each student has a different reaction time, which is the time taken to see the flash and respond to it. This can lead to variations especially if the difference exceeds 0.5 seconds.
-
Distance from the Starting Pistol: Each student may be standing at slightly different distances from the starting pistol, affecting the time it takes for the sound to reach them.
-
Environmental Factors: Factors such as wind, temperature, and humidity can affect sound propagation, leading to differences in perceived sound arrival times.
-
Perception Differences: Students may have different acuity for light or sound, affecting their ability to perceive the flash and the bang simultaneously.