Using Arduino in physics experiments: determining the speed of sound in air

• Published in: Physics education Vol. 55; no. 4; pp. 43005 - 43009
• Main Authors: Çoban, Atakan, Çoban, Niyazi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brecon IOP Publishing 01.07.2020
• Subjects: 21st Century Skills; Arduino; Coding; Error analysis; Mathematical analysis; Resonant frequencies; Room temperature; Skills; Sound propagation; speed of sound; STEM education; Technical education
• ISSN: 0031-9120; 1361-6552
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-6552/ab94d6

Considering 21st century skills and the importance of STEM education in fulfilling these skills, it is clear that course materials should be the ones that bring students together with technology and attract their attention, rather than traditional materials. In addition, in terms of the applicability of these materials, it is very important that the materials are affordable and easily accessible. In this study, a double open-ended resonance tube, a computer and speaker for generating sound with different frequencies, an Arduino UNO, KY038 Sound Sensor, Green LED and 220 Ω resistance were used to measure the speed of sound in air at room temperature. With the help of a sound sensor, two consecutive harmonic frequency values were determined and the fundamental frequency was calculated. Using the tube features and the fundamental frequency value, the speed of sound propagation in the air at room temperature was calculated as 350.90 m s−1. This value is theoretically 346 m s−1. This study, in which the propagation speed of the sound is calculated at a very low cost and coding studies with a 1.42% error margin, is important in terms of hosting all STEM gains and can be easily applied in classrooms.