Speed of Light
Description:
The purpose of this project was to calculate the speed of light using a microwave and some marshmallows. We did this by using the wave speed equation by calculating the distance between the raised areas on the plate of marshmallows. The microwaves's waves are at a frequency where they vibrate evenly so the nodes are always in the same place. This means that it is easy to calculate the wavelength.
Materials used:
For this experiment, we need:
Procedure:
First, we removed the spinning plate from the microwave and place the paper bowl over it. Next we spread the mini marshmallows in a flat layer on the plate. Then we placed it in the microwave on power 6 for one minuet. We removed the plate when some areas of the marshmallows started to rise/melt. We marked those spots with one chocolate chip. We had 4 raised spots on our plate, but depending on the exact placement of the plate, that number may vary. After that we measured the distance between the chocolate chips with the ruler.
Data:
Speed is equal to the frequency times the wavelength. The frequency of a microwave is 2.45 GHz and the wavelength is .09 meters or 9 cm. so the speed is equal to 2.45 ghz times 0.09 m. So that shows that the speed of light is 0.2205 GHzm. The real speed of light is 299792458 m/s so that shows that my percent error was 0.2205 - 299792458 divided by 299792458 with is a 98% error. I think I messed up with my units because I was really far off. I am very disappointed with my work on this problem because I thought I would be closer. I am pretty sure that the units are not correct because my units was GHzm and the real thing was supposed to be m/s so that is where I went wrong.
Reflection:
Overall, on this project I was disappointed with my end results. I was really far of from the real speed of light because my answer was 0.2205 GHzm and the real speed of light was 299792458 m/s. I think I messed up with my units because my answer was different and I didn't know how to convert GHz to seconds. So that is why I got a very bad percent error it was because of my units. I think I did the experiment correctly though, and it was a really fun experience to learn how to calculate the speed of light with just a microwave.
The purpose of this project was to calculate the speed of light using a microwave and some marshmallows. We did this by using the wave speed equation by calculating the distance between the raised areas on the plate of marshmallows. The microwaves's waves are at a frequency where they vibrate evenly so the nodes are always in the same place. This means that it is easy to calculate the wavelength.
Materials used:
For this experiment, we need:
- A microwave with the spinning plate removed
- Chocolate chips
- A plate of miniature marshmallows
- a paper bowl
- ruler
Procedure:
First, we removed the spinning plate from the microwave and place the paper bowl over it. Next we spread the mini marshmallows in a flat layer on the plate. Then we placed it in the microwave on power 6 for one minuet. We removed the plate when some areas of the marshmallows started to rise/melt. We marked those spots with one chocolate chip. We had 4 raised spots on our plate, but depending on the exact placement of the plate, that number may vary. After that we measured the distance between the chocolate chips with the ruler.
Data:
Speed is equal to the frequency times the wavelength. The frequency of a microwave is 2.45 GHz and the wavelength is .09 meters or 9 cm. so the speed is equal to 2.45 ghz times 0.09 m. So that shows that the speed of light is 0.2205 GHzm. The real speed of light is 299792458 m/s so that shows that my percent error was 0.2205 - 299792458 divided by 299792458 with is a 98% error. I think I messed up with my units because I was really far off. I am very disappointed with my work on this problem because I thought I would be closer. I am pretty sure that the units are not correct because my units was GHzm and the real thing was supposed to be m/s so that is where I went wrong.
Reflection:
Overall, on this project I was disappointed with my end results. I was really far of from the real speed of light because my answer was 0.2205 GHzm and the real speed of light was 299792458 m/s. I think I messed up with my units because my answer was different and I didn't know how to convert GHz to seconds. So that is why I got a very bad percent error it was because of my units. I think I did the experiment correctly though, and it was a really fun experience to learn how to calculate the speed of light with just a microwave.