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Investigating resonant frequency in a singing wine
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glass with varying densities of water
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Physics Internal Assessment
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1.0 Introduction
In my early teenage years, I once watched a street performer play a familiar melody. The musical
instrument used sounded like a flute, but on a closer look, it was wine glasses with varying levels
of water arranged to give a distinct pleasant tone. What piqued my interest, though, was how
these instruments were designed to produce a variety of tones with varying sound frequencies.
After conducting some research, I discovered that the art of playing musical tones with wine
glasses filled with water involves the principles of resonant frequency and particle vibration.
Tapping the rim of the glass with a metal rod or spoon or just rubbing over the rim of the glass
with a finger, sets the water inside into motion, generating sound waves. The frequency of these
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waves, and thus the pitch of the tone, is determined by the amount of water in the glass. By using
glasses of various sizes and filling them with different levels of water, it is possible to create a
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range of pitches, allowing for the creation of simple musical melodies. In this way, the
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relationship between water volume and resonant frequency is utilized to produce musical tones.
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However, other factors such as the size of the glass and the density of the liquid may also
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influence the resulting tone. In light of this, I decided to perform an experiment focusing on the
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impact of liquid density by altering the density of the water through the addition of sugar as a
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solute. This experiment aimed to explore the relationship between the density of the liquid and
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the resonant frequency, and how it contributes to the production of musical tones.
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2.0 Research question
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How does varying densities of water affect the resonant frequency of a a wine glass that
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is set into vibration through stick-slip-motion?
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3.0 Background information/theory
Ever since the middle ages, glasses were used to make music. Many instruments were made
using glasses including the glass harp, which was the first musical instrument ever made, and the
glass harmonica made by Benjamin Franklin, which is a mechanical version of the glass harp1.
These and many other instruments were based on the same principle of producing tones through
a principle called resonant frequency. In physics, an object's resonant frequency is the frequency
at which it naturally vibrates when struck or otherwise disturbed and it is used to understand the
vibrational behavior of objects and to create vibration-resistant structures2. It’s basically the
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frequency at which the system exhibits the greatest oscillation, or relative maximum amplitude
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as shown in figure (1).
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Figure 1. Resonant Frequency of a general system. Figure 2. An exaggeration of the deformation of the rim.
When the rim of a wine glass is rubbed with a wet finger, it causes it to vibrate and produce a
musical tone. This is known as the "singing wine glass" effect, and it is caused by
stick-slip-motion, which is the vibrational motion that occurs when a solid object, such as a wine
glass, is struck or rubbed against a surface. As the rim of the glass is struck, the friction between
the finger and the glass causes the glass to vibrate at its resonance frequency, determining the
1
(Science Buddies)
2
(UKEssays)
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pitch of the wine glass's musical tone. And due to the rim’s elastic nature, it begins to oscillate
into an elliptical shape as shown in figure 2.
A singing wine glass can be thought of as a mechanical oscillator since it is also capable of
oscillating or vibrating back and forth around a stable equilibrium position. Consequently, its
frequency is likewise defined by an equation that balances elasticity and inertia, similar to
equation (1), which is used to determine the frequency of oscillation, where m is the mass
attached to the string and k is its stiffness:
𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑘
ω = 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠
= 𝑚
(1)
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Due to this, the equation below was derived experimentally verified to find the fundamental
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frequency of oscillation (𝜔) of a wine glass filled with liquid3:
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ω = 𝑛 (2)
1+αℎ
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where:
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ω = fundamental frequency of the wine glass with the liquid in it (for each solution).
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ω0 = fundamental frequency of the empty wine glass
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α = a constant proportional to the liquid density, glass shape, and thickness of the glass
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h = height of liquid in the glass (volume)
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n = a constant that depends on the shape of the glass
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4.0 Hypothesis
The resonant frequency (which generates tones) produced by stick-slip motion will be
inversely proportional to the density of the liquid provided that the volume of the liquid and glass
are maintained constant. It does so because the denser the liquid gets, the more it absorbs energy,
leading to a low resonant frequency .
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(Jundt 3795)
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5.0 Experimental design
5.1 Variables
Type of Variable Method of measurement or control
variable
Independent Density of the liquid The density will be varied by using water as a
(mass) solvent then adding sugar as a solute to change its
density (varying the ratio of water to sugar).
Dependent Resonant frequency The frequency will be measured by using a digital
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frequency counter.
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Control variables
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Variable Method of measurement Reason for control
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Wine glass The same exact wine glass The natural frequency of oscillation is affected
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will be used in each trial. by the properties of the glass, such as its form,
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Size and shape of the size, and composition. The area of the glass
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glass will not change. impacts the stiffness which is inversely
proportional to the cross-sectional area
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therefore, as the cross-sectional area of the
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glass grows, its stiffness reduces and its natural
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frequency of oscillation rises.
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Height/volume The same amount of mL The height of the liquid affects the system's
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of liquid in glass of liquid will be added to mass, which in turn impacts the system's
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the wine glass each time natural oscillation frequency. Keeping the
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while measuring its height liquid level constant eliminates any external
in the glass. Will be factors, such as air currents or temperature
measured with a liquid fluctuations, that might alter the measurement
measuring cylinder and a of the resonant frequency.
measuring tape.
Temperature of It can be monitored by As the liquid's temperature increases, the liquid
the liquid using a thermometer and becomes less dense, and the glass's natural
making sure they all have frequency will increase. In addition, as the
about the same temperature of the liquid varies, so does its
temperature. viscosity, which can impact the system's
damping and, consequently, its damping rate,
affecting its resonant frequency.
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Method of By applying consistent If the vibration method changes, the amplitude,
vibration force when rotating on the frequency, and duration of the vibration might
rim of the wine glass. change, affecting the damping rate and natural
frequency of the glass. This can result in
resonant frequency fluctuations that are not
directly related to changes in water density.
5.2 Materials:
❖ Seven wine Glasses
❖ Water (200 ml)
❖ Sugar (24 g)
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❖ Spatula
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❖ Measuring cylinder
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❖ Digital weighing scale
❖ Thermometer @
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❖ Digital frequency counter (phone app “Fine Tuner”)
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5.3 Diagram:
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Figure 3. Apparatus used in the experiment.
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5.4 Procedure:
I. Six wine glasses were arranged and labeled sequentially from 1 to 7.
II. 200 ml of distilled water was accurately measured using a measuring cylinder and
transferred into the six wine glasses.
III. Different amounts of sugar (4.0 g, 8.0, 12.0g, 16.0g, 20.0 g and 24.0 g) were measured
using a scale and added to wine glasses 2 to 7 respectively. The sugar was stirred
thoroughly until it completely dissolved in water to form solutions of different densities.
IV. The temperature of the water in the wine glasses was monitored using a thermometer and
kept constant at a room temperature of approximately 20-22°C using the air conditioner.
V. Starting with wine glass number 1, a clean finger was moistened with a wet cloth and
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rotated around the rim of the wine glass to produce vibrations. The appropriate amount of
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pressure was applied to produce the desired tone.
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VI. The maximum frequency of the tone produced by the wine glass was recorded using a
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frequency counter (mobile phone application) and recorded as the resonant frequency.
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This was repeated three times.
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VII. Steps 5 and 6 were repeated for wine glasses 2 to 7 and the results were recorded in a
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table.
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5.5 Safety, Environmental and ethical concerns
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Safety, environmental, and ethical concerns were taken into account throughout the
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course of this investigation. Firstly, this experiment did not in any form cause any harm to
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animals, humans, or other forms of life. The experiment was conducted while wearing
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appropriate clothing to avoid wine glass spills from ruining the clothes. In addition, the wine
glass was handled cautiously due to its fragility, since it may shatter and cause harm or damage
to the laboratory equipment if not handled with care. No environmental concerns were present in
the experiment.
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6.0: Results and analysis
6.1 Raw Data
The following table shows the resonant frequency measurement results for each solution.
Table 2: Resonant frequency of each trial.
Resonant Frequency Measured
Solution Mass Sugar 𝑓 / [Hz]
m / [g]
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(± 0. 01) Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4
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1 0.00 880.0 881.0 880.8 880.0
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2 4.00 874.0 876.0 875.3 876.0
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3 8.00 868.0 867.0 869.0 868.7
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4 12.00 858.0 860.0 859.0 858.5
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5 16.00 853.0 852.0 852.0 852.0
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6 20.00 841.0 844.0 844.0 841.0
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7 24.00 834.0 837.0 836.0 835.0
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6.2 Processed Data
Table 3: table of density of solutions and their corresponding average resonant frequency
Solution Density % Uncertainty Mean frequency % Uncertainty
ρ / [g cm-³] ∆ρ 𝑓 / [Hz] ∆𝑓
1 1 ± 0. 25% 880.5 ± 0. 11%
2 1.02 ± 0. 50% 875.3 ± 0. 11%
3 1.04 ± 0. 375% 868.2 ± 0. 23%
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4 1.06 ± 0. 33% 858.9 ± 0. 23%
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5 1.08
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± 0. 313% 852.3 ± 0. 11%
6 1.10 ± 0. 30% @ 842.5 ± 0. 36%
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7 1.12 ± 0. 29% 835.5 ± 0. 36%
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6.2.1 Calculation of density
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Taking results from solution 2:
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𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑 204
Density ρ = 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑
= 200
=1. 02 𝑔𝑐𝑚
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0.01 𝑥 100 0.5 𝑥 100
% uncertainty of density: = + = 0.25% + 0.25% = 0.50%
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4 200
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Density of solution = 1. 02 𝑔 𝑐𝑚-3 ± 0. 375%
6.2.2 Average frequency
Using solution 2:
874.0 + 876.0 + 875.3 +876.0
Mean frequency: 𝑓= 4
= 875. 3 𝐻𝑧
𝑅𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 876.0− 874.0
The uncertainty: ∆𝑓 = 2
= 2
= ± 1 𝐻𝑧
1 𝑥 100
% Uncertainty: = 875.3
= 0. 11%
Resonant frequency = 875. 3 𝐻𝑧 ± 0. 11%
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6.2 Results Analysis
Using the data in table 3, a graph of resonant frequency against density was plotted as shown in
figure 3.
Figure 3: Graph of resonant frequency against density of water
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The results presented in figure 3 demonstrate a linear relationship between the density of a liquid
and its resonant frequency. The data shows that an increase in the density of a liquid results in a
corresponding decrease in its resonant frequency. This outcome is consistent with the findings of
a similar experiment conducted by three students in 2012, who explored the impact of varying
water-to-corn syrup ratios on the resonance frequency of a wine glass 4.
This relationship can be explained by considering the behavior of acoustic waves that propagate
through the liquid. As the density of the liquid increases, the intermolecular forces between its
particles become stronger, resulting in a more rigid structure. This increased rigidity leads to a
4
(Gardner et al.)
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decrease in the velocity of the acoustic waves, and thus a decrease in the resonant frequency. The
resonant frequency of the system is directly proportional to the velocity of the acoustic waves,
and thus, a reduction in the velocity of the acoustic waves results in a corresponding reduction in
the resonant frequency.
The low percentage uncertainty recorded in the measurement of the mean frequency indicates a
high level of precision and accuracy in the experimental results. This low deviation from the true
value of the mean frequency reflects a well-controlled experimental setup and a systematic
approach to data collection. The consistent and reliable results obtained through this
experimental setup reinforce the validity of the conclusions drawn from the experiment, such as
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the correlation between liquid density and resonant frequency.
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The presence of low uncertainty in the measurement also implies that the experimental error was
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minimal, which contributes to the confidence in the results. The low uncertainty increases the
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robustness of the conclusions, making it easier to generalize the results to other similar
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experiments. Hence, a low percentage uncertainty in the measurement of the mean frequency
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highlights the success of the experiment and enhances the credibility of the findings.
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7.0 Conclusion
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The objective of this experiment was to examine the impact of density variation on the resonant
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frequency of a singing wine glass. The results obtained were consistent with the hypothesis that
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there is a linear relationship between the density of a liquid and its resonant frequency, with an
increase in density resulting in a corresponding decrease in resonant frequency. This
phenomenon can be explained by the increased rigidity resulting from stronger intermolecular
forces as the density of the liquid increases, leading to a reduction in the velocity of acoustic
waves and thus a decrease in resonant frequency. The low uncertainty in the measurement of the
mean frequency suggests high accuracy and reliability of the results, indicating a well-conducted
experiment. These findings support the conclusion that the interplay between acoustic waves and
intermolecular forces plays a crucial role in determining the resonant frequency of liquids.
Overall, this experiment offers valuable insights into the properties and behavior of liquids and
their interactions with acoustic waves.
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9.0 Evaluation
The experiment aimed to investigate the effect of varying densities on the resonant frequency of
a singing wine glass. The results obtained indicated a linear relationship between the density of
the liquid and its resonant frequency, with an increase in density resulting in a decrease in
resonant frequency. This supports the hypothesis that the behavior of acoustic waves and
intermolecular forces play a crucial role in determining the resonant frequency of a liquid.
Strengths:
● The temperature of the solution was kept constant throughout the experiment, which
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minimized the potential for temperature-induced variations in the solution's properties.
This was achieved by using a thermometer to continuously monitor the solution and
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avoiding transportation of the glass.
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● The method used for measuring the resonant frequency was consistent throughout the
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experiment, ensuring that the results were comparable.
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● The low percentage uncertainty in the measurement of the mean frequency implies a high
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degree of accuracy and reliability in the results, providing evidence for a well-conducted
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experiment.
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Limitations:
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● The production of tones from the wine glass was a challenge, as it required a specific
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friction and rotation around the rim to vibrate and produce tones. This resulted in a small
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degree of uncertainty in the results obtained. This limitation could be overcome by
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washing the finger with soap to remove any oils that may alter the friction, and by
experimenting with the pressure applied on the rim to find an appropriate one.
● Maintaining a constant volume of the solution was also difficult, as the addition of sugar
to the liquid may have contributed to a small increase in volume. This random error also
introduced a small degree of uncertainty in the results obtained. To minimize this, the
solution in the glass was continuously monitored using a ruler to ensure that the volume
remained constant.
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Further investigation
Further investigations can be conducted to build on the results of this experiment in order to
deepen our understanding of the relationship between liquid density and resonant frequency.
Some possible areas for further investigation include:
● Testing other liquids with different properties (e.g., viscosity, surface tension) to
determine the influence of these factors on resonant frequency.
● Examining the effect of different glass shapes on resonant frequency, and whether the
material of the glass has an impact on the results.
● Measuring the resonant frequency of liquids at different temperatures to determine the
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temperature dependence of this relationship.
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10.0 References
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Jundt, Gregor. “Vibrational modes of partly filled wine glasses.” Journal of the Acoustical
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Society of America., vol. 119, no. June 2006, 2006, pp. 3793–3798.
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Science Buddies. “Singing Glasses.” Scientific American, 26 November 2015,
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https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/singing-glasses1/. Accessed 25 November
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2022.
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UKEssays. “Investigation in Acoustics of Wine Glasses.” UK Essays, 9 March 2018,
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https://www.ukessays.com/essays/physics/investigation-acoustics-wine-glasses-3750.php.
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Accessed 27 November 2022.
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Gardner, Nathan, et al. “Wine Glass Resonant Frequency.” TuHS Physics, 2012,
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http://tuhsphysics.ttsd.k12.or.us/Research/IB12/AlbeKastGard/index.htm. Accessed 23 December
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2022.
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