Overview:
The essence of this lab is its simplicity of form but subtlety of execution. You will divide into two groups separated by a large known distance. One group makes a loud sound while the second group measures the time required for the sound to reach them.
Equipment:
Two steel wheels and two geologist's hammers, stopwatches, the 200 ft tape measure, and a good night's rest...so your reactions are at their peak.
Procedure: In this experiment the speed of sound in air is determined by the direct method of measuring the time interval sound takes to travel a known distance. One group will be located near the footpath along the right field foul line of the UVI softball field. Using the tape measure, the second group will move 600 ft towards the east.
Both groups will have a steel wheel and hammer, and half of the stopwatches. One member of the first group will raise the hammer above his/her head and in one smooth motion, smack the steel wheel. The "timers" in the second group, the one's with the stopwatches, will start the stopwatches the instant they see the sound being created and stop them at the instant the sound is heard. The action creating the sound must be unmistakable, hence the groups should agree upon a system and practice this system before beginning the experiment. (Six hundred feet is too far for communicative screaming!)
The timers in the field can also anticipate the arrival of the signal. It is actually easy to tell if you were late or early. Simply keep the times in which you have confidence.