TEACHER NOTES

ISSUES RELATED TO THE PROBLEM

Mathematica's Play command makes this problem a lot more interesting, but the problem was written so that Mathematica isn't a necessity.

Prerequisites

Students must have a working knowledge of amplitude, frequency, and period as they relate to the cosine function.

Time allotment - time management

Less than one class period is required to complete this problem.

Expectations

Students will be able to recognize the quantitative characteristics of the resultant sound.

Future payoffs

Students will gain a greater understanding of the graphical analysis of a trigonometric functions and of the relationship between mathematical functions and physical phenomena.

Extensions

Sound frequencies could be sampled using CBL equipment.

References and Sources

Daniel Stump, "Using the Graphing Calculator in Sample Physics Problems, The Physics Teacher, May 1993, pp.317-8