Activity 28 PS-2826

Interference–Beat Frequency
Waves and Sound: sound waves, interference, beats, beat frequency

Qty Equipment and Materials Part Number

1 PASPORT Xplorer GLX PS-2002
1 Sound Generator (built in the GLX)

Purpose
The purpose of this activity is to investigate the relationship of the beat frequency and the
difference in frequency of the two sound waves.
Background
When two sound waves with slightly different frequencies combine, the warbling pattern of
noise is known as ‘beats’. The rate at which the beats occur is called the beat frequency .The
principle of linear superposition provides an explanation of what happens when the waves
overlap.
The diagram helps to explain why beats occur. The drawing
displays graphical representations of the pressure patterns of
a 10-Hz wave and a 12-Hz wave, along with the pressure
pattern that results when the two overlap.
The amplitude in the bottom part of the drawing changes
from a minimum to a maximum, back to a minimum, and so
on. The two waves produce a loud sound when the amplitude
is a maximum and a faint sound when the amplitude is a
minimum.
The periodic variations in loudness are the ‘beats’ and result Fig. 1: Beats
from the interference between two sound waves with slightly
different frequencies.
Two loud-faint cycles, or beats, occur in the one-second interval shown in the drawing,
corresponding to a beat frequency of 2 Hz.
Preview
Use the built in Xplorer GLX Sound Generator to create two sound waves with slightly different
frequencies. Use the GLX Stopwatch to record the amount of time for several beats to occur.
Determine the period of the beats and calculate the beat frequency. Compare the beat frequency
to the difference in frequency, ∆f.
Safety Precaution
• Follow all directions for using the equipment.
Prediction
How would the beat frequency change when the difference in frequency between the two sound
waves is changed?

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Activity 28 Interference–Beat Frequency PS-2826

Procedure
GLX Setup
1. Turn on the GLX ( ). In the Home Screen, use the

arrow keys to select the Output icon ( ) and press

to activate your choice.
• The Output Settings screen opens. Make sure that the
Speaker Configuration is set to ‘Mono’.
2. Use the arrow keys to select frequency (‘Freq. (Hz)’)
for the Left Output Channel and press to increase Fig. 2: Output Settings Screen
the frequency from 440.0 to 441.0.
3. Press F2 ( ) to open the Left Step Size menu. Use
the up arrow key to select ‘Step 0.1’ and press to
activate your choice.
Sound Check
Before you record data, do a sound check.
1. Press and to turn on the Left and Right Output
Channels.
Fig. 3: Freq. (Hz) at 441.0
2. Describe what you hear in the Data section of the Lab
Report.
3. Record the frequencies of the Left and Right Output
Channels in the Data Table.
Record Data
Use the GLX Stopwatch screen to time the beat period. Since
it is not practical to measure the short time between two
beats, you will measure the time for 10 full beat cycles and
then calculate the beat period by dividing the total elapsed Fig. 4: Select ‘Step 0.1’
time by 10. Start timing on beat “zero” and stop timing on
beat “ten” as shown in the illustration.

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Activity 28 Interference–Beat Frequency PS-2826

1. Press to return to the Home Screen, use the arrow keys to select Stopwatch, and press
to activate your choice.
2. Count the beats: “zero, one, two, three, …, ten”. Press on beat “zero” to start timing
and press again on beat “ten” to stop timing.
3. Record the total elapsed time for 10 beat cycles in the Data Table.
4. Press to reset the Stopwatch.
Record More Data
5. Press to return to the Home Screen, use the arrow keys to select Output, and press
to activate your choice.
6. Use the arrow keys to select the frequency (‘Freq. (Hz)’) of the Left Output Channel.
7. Press twice to increase the frequency by 0.2 Hz (to 441.2 Hz).
8. Record the frequencies of the Left and Right Output Channels in the Data Table.
9. Repeat the steps to measure and record the total elapsed time for 10 beat cycles.
10. Repeat the entire process for a total of six trials.
Analysis
1. Use your data to calculate the frequency differences for each trial and record the results in
the Data Table.
2. Calculate the beat period for each trial by dividing the elapsed time for 10 beat cycles by
10 and record the results.
3. Calculate the beat frequency for each trial. The frequency is the reciprocal of the period
1
( fbeat = ).
Tbeat

Note: Press to return to the Home Screen and press to open the Calculator. Use the
Calculator to calculate the beat frequency.

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Activity 28 Interference–Beat Frequency PS-2826

Physics with the Xplorer GLX © 2006 PASCO p. 208

Activity 28 Interference–Beat Frequency PS-2826

Lab Report - Activity 28: Interference–Beat Frequency

Name ________________________________ Date ___________
Data
Describe what you heard when you did a sound check:

Data Table

Left Channel Right Channel Frequency Elapsed Time for Beat Period, Beat Frequency,
Frequency, fleft Frequency, fright Difference ∆f 10 Beat Cycles Tbeat fbeat
441.0 Hz 440.0 Hz 1.0 Hz

Calculations
Calculate and record the frequency difference (∆f = fleft – fright) and the beat period, Tbeat.

1
Calculate the beat frequency, fbeat, based on the following: fbeat = .
Tbeat

Questions
1. According to your data, what is the relationship between the difference in frequencies of
the two sound waves (∆f) and the beat frequency (fbeat)?

2. Do your results support your prediction?

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Activity 28 Interference–Beat Frequency PS-2826

Physics with the Xplorer GLX © 2006 PASCO p. 210