Hang in there!
Experiment: To investigate whether sound travels better through a solid or a gas.
Materials:
You will need-
Two 30 cm pieces of thread.
One metal clothes hanger.
A piece of paper and a pen to record your results.
Method:
What you have to do-
1) Tie one piece of thread to each end of the hanger.
2) Hold the hanger upside down by the ends of the pieces of string.
3) Bang the hanger against a table.
4) Listen to how loud the sound is!
5) Now repeat steps one and two but this time put your fingers in your ears while holding the strings.
6) Bang the hanger against a table.
7) Listen to how loud the sound is!
Results:
Did you discover what we did?
When your fingers are in your ears the sound is much louder.
Conclusions:
Sound travels better through a solid (string), than through a gas (air).
Experiment: Another experiment to investigate whether sound travels better through a solid or a gas.
Materials:
You will need-
One friend.
One table.
A piece of paper and a pen to record your results.
Method:
What you have to do-
1)Sit opposite your friend.
2) Knock on the table.
3)Listen to how loud the sound is.
4) Ask your friend to place their ear against the surface of the table.
5)Knock on the table again.
6) Ask your friend to describe how loud the sound is through the table.
Results:
Did you discover what we did?
When you listen to the knocking sound through the table, it is much louder.
Conclusions:
Sound travels better through a solid (table), than through a gas (air).
Tick Tock!
Experiment: To investigate through which solid, sound travels best.
Materials:
You will need-
One friend.
A watch – not digital!
Different types of solids about the same thickness e.g. wood, glass, concrete, plastic, paper.
A piece of paper and a pen to record your results.
Method:
What you have to do-
1) Partner 1 and 2 should stand either side of the solid e.g. a glass window.
2) Partner 1 should hold the ticking watch against the solid.
3)Partner 2 should then press their ear against the solid on the other side and listen to the intensity of the sound of the ‘tick tock’ from the clock.
4)Repeat these steps using different solids and then record through which solid the ‘tick tock’ sound was loudest. In other words which solid let the ‘tick tock’ sound travel through best.
Bright ideas!
Make up a scale (1-4) of sound intensities, to help you record your results!
1. Very soft.
2. Soft.
3. Loud.
4. Very Loud.
Experiment: To examine how the larynx or voice box vibrates as we speak.
Materials:
You will need-
Yourself.
Your hand.
Method:
What you have to do-
1)Place your hand firmly mid way on your throat.
2) Say ‘aghhhh!’ for as long as you can.
Results:
Did you discover what we did?
You can feel your throat vibrating!
Experiment: To examine (hear and feel) sound vibrations!
Materials:
You will need-
A Partner.
A balloon.
Method:
What you have to do-
1) Blow up the balloon.
2) Hold it against your ear.
3) Ask your partner to press their lips against the balloon and speak.
4) Repeat steps 3 and 4 but this time you should speak and your friend should listen.
Results:
Did you discover what we did?
You can hear the vibrations through the balloon and you can feel them.
You can feel your own voice through your lips as the balloon’s skin vibrates against them.
Conclusions:
Sound is created when an object moves and the air around it vibrates creating sound waves.
Experiment: To create some strange sounds with everyday materials.
Materials:
You will need-
A drinking straw.
A strip of plastic.
Scissors.
A balloon.
Method:
What you have to do-
With the plastic:1)Hold the strip of plastic tightly between your thumbs and the heels of your hands.
2) Blow hard across the strip.With the straw:
1)Press one end of the straw flat.
2) Cut the sides to form a point.
3) Put the pointed end of the straw in your mouth and blow hard.With the balloon:
1) Pump up the balloon.
2) Hold the neck to stop the air escaping.
3) Grip the neck of the balloon and stretch it.
4) What happens as the air escapes?
Results:
You can make some very weird sounds.
Experiment: To create a megaphone and discover how we can make our voices louder and how we can hear more.
Materials:
You will need-
Sticky tape.
A scissors.
A large sheet of paper.
Method:
What you have to do-
1) Roll the paper into a cone.
2) Stick tape along the edge of the rolled paper to secure it.
3) Put the cone over your mouth and talk into it.
4) Put the cone to your ear.
Results:
What happens when you put the cone to your ear?
What happens when you put the cone to your mouth and speak?
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