Sound experiments

Today in Room 4 we conducted some 'hands-on' science experiments where we soon discovered how sound is made.   This experiment allowed us to hear and feel sound vibrations as the rubber band pinged against the plastic cup.  The harder we pulled the rubber band (more energy), the louder the vibration.

 

 

We began this experiment by placing a blown up balloon against a speaker (with no sound).  The balloon did nothing.  We then turned the music on and felt the vibrations through the balloon.  The louder the music, the stronger the vibrations that we felt.

 

 

This was a fun experiment where we got to 'see' the sound vibrations, by watching rice dance when we hit the drum skin with a beater.

 

Making waves - for this experiment we had to break a toothpick into 3 or 4 pieces and lay them on some water in a dish.  We then wet a paper towel and squeezed a drip into the middle of the water.  We noticed the waves created by the dropping water and realised that this is similar to sound waves.

Which travels faster - light or sound?  For this experiment we had to use a funnel to put some flour into a balloon, blow the balloon up and tie it in a knot.  Then one group member went some distance away from the rest of the group and popped the balloon with a pin.  We noticed that we could see the flour exploding BEFORE hearing the sound of the balloon popping, so we concluded that light does travel faster than sound, just like lightning and thunder.