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5F Changing Sounds
Section 1: Introduction
5F1
The orchestra — loudness and pitch
Section 2: Observing how sound is made
5F2
Photo survey: Plucking, hitting or blowing
5F3
Musical straws
5F4
Make a kazoo
5F5
Feeling vibrations: the Cymbal
5F6
Speaker vibrations
Section 3: Vibrations and sound
5F7
Vibrations of a spring: Length
5F8
Vibrations of a spring: Mass
5F9
Vibrations : tuning forks I
5F10 Vibrations : tuning forks II
5F11
Vibrations in a ruler
5F12 Make a wine glass vibrate
Section 4: How sound travels
5F13 How sound travels through the air
5F14 Make a megaphone/hearing aid
5F15 Transmitting sounds along a tube
5F16 Echoes
5F17 How sound travels in a liquid
5F18 Transmitting sounds along a string
5F19 Sound in solids
5F20 Morse code using radiators
Section 5: Preventing sound travelling
5F21 Ear protectors
Section 6: Testing how to muffle sound
5F22 Absorption of sound
5F23 Muffling sound
Section 8: Describing sounds
5F24 Everyday sounds
5F25 Sirens
Section 9: Changing sounds
5F26 Make a drum set
5F27 Percussion instruments: musical bottles
5F28 Make a rain stick
Section 10: Pitch in stringed instruments
5F29 Examining guitars
5F30 Make a guitar
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Section 11: Pitch in wind instruments
5F31 Make a didgeree doo
5F32 Pan pipes using straws
5F33 Pan pipes: using plastic overflow piping
5F34 Musical bottles
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5F Equipment list
Specialised equipment
Beeswax
Buzzer
Cables and clips
Cable
Clamp
Drill and 3 mm/4 mm bits
Funnels
Glue gun
Hack saw
Set of weights
Slinky
Switch
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Recyclable
Glass bottles x 8 identical
Large plastic container
Large cardboard cylinder
Plastic bag
Plastic bottles x 8 identical
Plastic cups
PVC overflow pipe
PVC tubing: 36 mm hole
Rubber balloon
Shoe box
Yoghurt cartons
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Standard equipment/ household
Acoustic guitar
Alarm clock
Battery
Card A2
Collection of springs
Glue
IWB with speakers on
Kebab sticks
Kitchen towel roll
Large wall
Lentils
Materials to muffle sound
MDF or plywood
Metre ruler: plastic
Open concreted areas
Pencil
Ping pong ball
Plastic straw
Plastic straws
PVA glue
Rice
Rubber bands
Scissors
Sharp pencil
Source of music
Speaker
Split pins: brass
Sponge
Spring
Stapler
Sticky tape
Stiff card
String
Tracing paper
Triangle
Tuning forks
Wine glass
Wood dowel: 12 mm
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5F1 The orchestra — loudness and pitch
Retort
IWB
with
stand
speakers
set on
100 ml
Print
beaker
and photocopy
Beaker 250ml
worksheetTest
below
tube 19mm
1
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Click on the sounds 1 to 13 in the table below and get your pupils to
identify the following instruments from the orchestra.
Base Drum
Flute
Cello
Grand Piano
Violin
Harpsichord
French Horn
2
In each case say whether the
sound is a high or low pitch.
Clarinet
Snare Drum
Bugle
Acoustic Guitar
Bassoon
Bass Guitar
Your teacher will click on the sounds. Listen and fill in the table below.
Instrument
High/low pitch
Loud/soft
Sound 1
Sound 2
Sound 3
Sound 4
Sound 5
Sound 6
Sound 7
Sound 8
Sound 9
Sound 10
Sound 11
Sound 12
Sound 13
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5F2 Photo survey: Plucking, hitting or blowing
Retort stand
IWB
Printset
and photocopy
100 ml beaker
worksheetBeaker
below 250ml
Test tube 19mm
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Sound is made when you create vibrations by hitting, plucking or blowing through some part of
a musical instrument. Look at the photos above and decide how the vibrations are made.
Instrument
Plucking
Hitting
Blowing
Bugle
Piano
Tambourine
Banjo
Recorder
Xylophone
Flute
Trombone
Guitar
What exactly vibrates in a ………
Piano………………………………
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Bugle………………………………
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Bongo drum ………………………………
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5F3 Musical straws
Retort straw
Plastic
stand set
100
Scissors
ml beaker
Beaker 250ml
Test tube 19mm
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
You are going to turn a straw into
a musical instrument.
1
2
Make a mouth piece by cutting
a V shape at one end of the straw
as indicated opposite.
Repeat with various lengths of straw.
Insert the straw in your mouth, pressing
with your lips as indicated opposite, so that
the tips of the straw are just separated.
3
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Blow so that you get the tips of the
straw to vibrate.
Repeat with straws of different lengths
and compare their sounds.
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5F4 Make a kazoo
Retort stand
Tracing
paperset Elastic
100 ml
band
beakerKitchen
Beaker
towel
250ml
roll
1
Test tube 19mm
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Cut a circle of about 10 cm diameter
from a piece of tracing paper.
2
Cover the end of a kitchen towel
roll with the tracing paper and
secure with an elastic band.
Now make a loud humming noise
at one end of the kazoo so that
the tracing paper starts to
vibrate.
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5F5 Feeling vibrations: the Cymbal
Retort stand
Symbol
Triangle
set
100 ml beaker
Beaker 250ml
Test tube 19mm
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Hit a cymbal or a triangle and
touch it gently with your finger.
Note what you feel.
What do you feel when you touch the cymbal with your finger? ………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
And a triangle? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
These are percussion instruments. What do percussion instruments do when they are hit?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Name as many percussion instruments as you can below: ……………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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5F6 Speaker vibrations
Retort stand Ping
Speaker
set pong
100
ball
ml beaker
Source of
Beaker
music 250ml
1
Test tube 19mm
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Turn a speaker on its side and
place a ping pong ball inside as
indicated in the diagram.
2
Turn on the music and notice what
happens to the ping pong ball.
3
Observe what happens if you
increase the volume.
How does this experiment show that the speaker is vibrating? ………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
What vibrates in a speaker unit? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
How does the pitch effect the behaviour of the ping pong ball? ………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
What happens to the ping pong ball when you increase volume of the sound? ………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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5F7 Vibrations of a spring: Length
Retort stand
Pencil
Collection
set
of
100
springs
ml beakerWeight
Beaker 250ml
Test tube 19mm
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
You are going to investigate how the vibrations
of a spring depend on its length.
1
Use a pencil to support a spring and weight.
One pupil should hold the pencil firmly to
the desk.
2
Measure the number of vibrations that
one spring makes in a certain period of
time (say 20 seconds).Then repeat the
exercise for two, then three springs
joined in series. See opposite.
Fill in the table below which shows how the number of vibrations depends on the length of the
spring:
One spring
Two springs
Three springs
Number of vibration in …….…… seconds
Represent your information in the form of a histogram using the graph on the following page.
Does the number of vibrations increase as the spring gets longer or decrease? …………………………
The pitch of a musical instrument depends
on how many vibrations it makes in a second.
The higher the pitch, the more it vibrates.
Use this experiment to explain the difference
in pitch produced by a violin and a cello:
…………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………
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Number of vibrations
Number of vibrations
5F7 Vibrations of a spring: Length
1
2
3
Number of springs
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1
2
1
2
3
Number of springs
Number of vibrations
2
Number of vibrations
1
3
Number of springs
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3
Number of springs
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5F8 Vibrations of a spring: Weight
Retort stand
Pencil
Spring
set
Set
100 of
ml weights
beaker
Beaker 250ml
Test tube 19mm
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Fill in the results table below:
100g
200g
300g
400g
500g
Number of vibrations in …………… seconds
Represent your information in the form of a histogram using the graph on the following page.
Write the words “more” or “less” to complete the sentences below.
When the weight carried by a spring decreases it vibrates ……………………
The ……………………… an object vibrates the lower its pitch
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Number of vibrations
Number of vibrations
5F8 Vibrations of a spring: Weight
100g
200g 300g
400g
500g
100g
100g
500g
Weight carried g
200g 300g
400g
500g
100g
Weight carried g
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400g
Number of vibrations
Number of vibrations
Weight carried g
200g 300g
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200g 300g
400g
500g
Weight carried g
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5F9 Vibrations: tuning forks I
Retort forks
Tuning
stand set
1
100 ml beaker
Beaker 250ml
Test tube 19mm
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Hit the base of a large tuning fork
and place it on top of your desk.
2
Repeat with the smaller tuning fork
and compare the sounds produced.
Which tuning fork produced the highest pitch the large one or the small one?
On the side of the tuning fork you should be able read a number ( for example 256 hz) .
This is the number of vibrations it makes every second (known as the pitch or
frequency).
Write down the frequencies of the tuning forks in the table below:
High or low note
Frequency (hz)
Large tuning fork
Small tuning fork
Insert the word “lower” or “higher” to complete the following sentences:
The larger the tuning fork the ……………………………… its pitch.
A tuning fork marked with 512 hz vibrates with a ……………………………… pitch than one marked
with 256 hz.
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5F10 Vibrations: tuning forks II
Retort forks
Tuning
stand setLarge
100
container
ml beaker
of water
Beaker 250ml
1
2
Test tube 19mm
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Make a tuning fork vibrate and touch
the surface of a jar of water with
one of the prongs. Note what happens
to the water surface.
Now touch the surface with both
prongs and observe the pattern
produced between each prong.
What happens to the surface of the water when you touch it with the tuning fork? …………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Sketch the pattern that you observe on the surface with one and two tuning fork prongs:
one tuning fork prong
two tuning fork prongs
How is the surface of water like the skin of a drum? …………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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5F11 Vibrations in a ruler
Retort
A
plastic
stand
metre
setruler100 ml
Clamp
beaker
(if available)
Beaker 250ml
1
Test tube 19mm
Hold a metre ruler firmly
at the edge of a table. Use
a clamp if available.
Test tube rack
2
3
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Pull down the other end of
the ruler and release. Count
the number of vibrations
completed in thirty seconds.
Reduce the length of the ruler, free
to vibrate, by 5cm intervals. Each
time measure the number of
vibrations it completes in 30 seconds.
For each length of ruler measure the number of vibrations it completes in 30 seconds and
write your result in the table below:
Length of vibrating section
90 cm
85 cm 80 cm
75 cm 70 cm
Number of vibrations in 30 seconds
Plot the results on the graph provided.
What happens to the number of vibrations as the length of the ruler decreased?………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
As the vibrating part of the ruler gets shorter does its pitch increase or decrease? ………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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Number of vibrations
Number of vibrations
5F11 Vibrations in a ruler
90 85 80 75 70 65 60 55
90 85 80 75 70 65 60 55
Length of ruler cm
Number of vibrations
Number of vibrations
Length of ruler cm
90 85 80 75 70 65 60 55
90 85 80 75 70 65 60 55
Length of ruler cm
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Length of ruler cm
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5F12 Make a wine glass vibrate
Retortglass
Wine
stand set
1
2
100 ml beaker
Beaker 250ml
Test tube 19mm
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Make a wine glass vibrate by
dipping your finger in water
and gently move it around the
rim of the glass.
You can try holding it as
shown below but you must first
find the correct position on the
stem.
Does the vibrating wine glass produce a high or low pitched sound? ………………………………………………
How could you alter the pitch of this “instrument”? ……………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
What force between your finger and the wine glass helps to set up the vibrations? …………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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5F13 How sound travels through the air
Retort stand
Slinky
Sticky
set tape100 ml beaker
1
Beaker 250ml
Test tube 19mm
Set up vibrations in the slinky by
moving your hand backwards and
forwards in a direction parallel
to the slinky.
Test tube rack
2
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Attach a piece of coloured
paper to the slinky and observe
its motion.
The vibrations produced in the experiment described above are very similar to those
produced by sound as it travels through air.
In this experiment the slinky contracts and expands as the vibration passes along it. In the
case of sound what contracts and expands as the sound travels? ……………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Indicate the direction of (vibration) of the paper marker in the diagram below:
Direction of propagation
Longitudinal
?
How does the frequency of the marker compare with the frequency of your hand? It is ….
a) More
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b) Less
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c) The same
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5F14 Make a megaphone/hearing aid
Retort
A2
cardstandSticky
set tape
100 ml Stapler
beaker
2
Beaker 250ml
Test tube 19mm
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
1
Using a sheet of A2 card, draw
and cut out as large a quadrant
as possible. Then, cut out a
smaller quadrant for the mouthpiece of your megaphone.
3
Try holding a conversation with and
without the megaphone and compare
the difference .
Roll the quadrant into a cone
then firmly staple or tape the
overlapping area.
4
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Now get your partner to use his
or her megaphone as a hearing aid
and see how far apart you can stand
while holding a conversation.
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5F15 Transmitting sounds along a tube
Retort stand
Funnels
Plastic
set tubing
100 ml beaker
Beaker 250ml
Test tube 19mm
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
In pairs, communicate with each other
using plastic funnels and a long (4m to 5m)
section of plastic tubing.
Long section of plastic tubing
In this experiment, what carries the sound to your friend when you speak? …………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
When is the sound loudest, when you speak with the tube or without the tube? …………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Can you explain this?
(hint: think about in which directions the sound travels when you speak with and without the
apparatus above. Where does the sound energy go?)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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5F16 Echoes
Retortwall
Large
stand set
Open concreted
100 ml beaker
areas
1
2
3
Beaker 250ml
Test tube 19mm
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Find an open space near to a large wall
in your school grounds.
Stand well back from the wall. To hear
an echo you should be more than 20 m
away.
Use a hammer or a rock to make a loud
sharp noise and listen for the echo.
What causes an echo? …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Draw below the route the sound takes as it passes from your mouth to the wall and back to
your ear.
What happens to the time it takes the echo to reach you as you move further away from the
wall?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Why is this? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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5F17 How sound travels in a liquid
Retort and
Cables
stand
clips
set
Plastic
100 ml bag
beaker Buzzer
Beaker Battery
250ml
Test
Container
tube 19mm
with water
Test tube rack
1
Place a buzzer inside a polythene
bag and secure it with elastic bands
as indicated opposite.
2
Connect the buzzer to a battery
and lower it into a container of
water MAKING SURE that the
mouth of the bag is above the level
of the water.
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Elastic band
Buzzer
3
Note what happens to the sound
as you place the buzzer in the
water.
How does this experiment provide evidence that sound can travel through liquids? ……………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Provide other evidence that shows that sound can travel through liquids such as water:……………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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5F18 Transmitting sounds along a string
Retort stand
Yoghurt
cartons
set
Sharp
100 mlpencil
beaker
or nailBeaker
to make
250ml
hole
3
Test
String
tube 19mm
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
1
Punch a small hole in the base of
a yoghurt carton using a nail.
2
Now pass a piece of string through the
holes of each yoghurt carton and tie a
big knot at either end so that the string
will not drop out.
Test tube rack
Stretch the string tight and have a
conversation with your classmate as
indicated in the diagram below.
In this experiment, what carries the sound to your friend when you speak? …………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
What evidence does this experiment provide that sound travels through solids? ………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Can you think of any other evidence that sound can travel through solids? ……………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
And liquids? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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5F19 Sound in solids
Retortclock
Alarm
stand set
1
100 ml beaker
Beaker 250ml
Test tube 19mm
Position an alarm clock on your bench
top. Cover up one ear then listen
carefully for the sound reaching your
other ear through the wooden surface.
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
2
Find the distance to which you
can still hear the clock ticking
through the bench.
3
Experiment with other materials
that might carry sound such as
the lab floor, a concrete path,
and a carpet.
How does this experiment provide evidence that sound can travel through solids? ……………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Fill in the table below for different surfaces
Distance to which you can still hear the clock ticking
Wooden bench surface
Tiled surface
Carpet
Through which material does the sound appear to travel furthest?…………………………………………………
Which is the poorest transmitter of sound? …………………………………………………………………………………………
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5F20 Morse code using radiators
Retortplastic
Hard
standobject
set
100 ml beaker
Beaker 250ml
Test tube 19mm
1
Try GENTLY tapping on your
radiators or water pipes using
a hard PLASTIC object. Find
out if it is possible to here
the noise in other class rooms.
2
Try communicating to other
classes using morse code:
for a “dot” give a “tap” for
a “dash” make a “scrape”.
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Now use the code below to send a message to someone in another classroom:
A .B -...
C -.-.
D -..
E .
F ..-.
G --.
H ....
I ..
J .--K -.L .-..
M --
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N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
-.
--.--.
--..-.
...
......--..-.---..
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0 ----1 .---2 ..--3 ...-4 ....5 .....
6 -....
7 --...
8 ---..
9 ----.
Full stop .-.-.Comma --..-Query ..--..
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5F21 Ear protectors
Retort cups
Plastic
stand set
Tissue
100 mlSponge
beaker
1
Cotton
Beakerwool
250ml Tape
Test tube
PVA19mm
glue
Scissors
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Provide children with material for
making ear protectors such as:
Plastic cups of different size
Tape
Foam
Cotton wool
Tissue Paper
PVA glue
Scissors
2
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Get the pupils to work in pairs or small
groups and find who can make the most
effective ear protectors.
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5F22 Absorption of sound
Retort stand
Collection
of materials
set
100
toml
muffle
beaker
soundBeaker
(see below)
250ml
Alarm
Test tube
clock19mm
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
You are going to investigate how easily different materials transmit or absorb sound.
1
You will need a collection of
different materials of about
the same thickness. For example,
wood, metal, wool, sand in a tray,
polystyrene.
2
Place the clock on top of each
sample then find the maximum
distance to which you can still
hear it ticking through the bench.
Write down your results in the table below:
Material
Distance to which you can still hear the clock ticking
Wood
Polystyrene
Wool
Sand
Steel
Which material appears to absorb sound best? ……………………………………………………………………………………
Explain your answer: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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5F23 Muffling sound
Retortplastic
Large
stand container
set
100 ml Collection
beaker of
Beaker
materials
250ml
to muffle
Testsound
tube 19mm
(see below)
Test tube
Buzzer
rack
Battery
Test tube Cables
rack and
Test
clips
tube rack
Switch
You are going to investigate how well different materials
muffle sound. A small buzzer makes a good sound source.
1
2
3
Put the test material into a large
container and insert the buzzer so
that it is completely surrounded by
the material.
Switch the buzzer on then start
walking away from the it until you
can no longer hear the sound.
Measure the distance and write it
down in the table below.
For each sample materials
Test material
Distance to which you can still hear the buzzer
Cotton wool
Sponge
Sand
Polystyrene
Represent your results in a histogram.
Which material appears to be the best at muffling sound? ………………………………………………………………
How did you decide? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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Equipment
5F23 Muffling sound
Hearing range
Investigating mufflers
Type of muffler
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5F24 Everyday sounds
Retort
IWB
with
stand
speakers
set on
100 ml
Print
beaker
and photocopy
Beaker 250ml
worksheetTest
below
tube 19mm
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Click on the sounds below and identify each of the everyday noises listed above.
Sound 1
Sound 8
Sound 2
Sound 9
Sound 3
Sound 10
Sound 4
Sound 11
Sound 5
Sound 12
Sound 6
Sound 13
Sound 7
Sound 14
What is the difference between a noise and a note played by a musical instrument?
The sound profiles above represent vibrations in the air made by a tuning fork and a set of
jangling keys. Which is which?
How did you decide? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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5F25 Sirens
Retort
IWB
with
stand
speakers
set on
100 ml
Print
beaker
and photocopy
Beaker 250ml
worksheetTest
below
tube 19mm
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Click on the three sounds below and get the pupils to decide which is an ambulance, which is a
police car and which a fire engine?
Siren 1
Siren 2
Siren 3
What happens to the pitch of the sound as a siren approaches you? ………………………………………………
What happens to the pitch of the sound as a siren goes away from you? ………………………………………
This is called the Doppler effect.
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Equipment
5F26 Make a drum set
Retort plastic
Large
stand set
container:
100 flower
ml beaker
pot, yoghurt
Beakercarton
250ml
Rubber
Test tube
balloon
19mm
or old Test
rubber
tube
glove
rack
1
You are going to make your drum
using a large container such as an
old plastic flower pot or a large
yoghurt carton.
2
Use some scissors or a cutter to
remove the base from the pot to
form a hollow cylinder.
3
Form the drum membrane by cutting
a section from a rubber balloon or
an old rubber glove and stretching it
over the large aperture of the pot.
Secure the membrane using two or
three rubber bands.
4
Use a pencil with a rubber as your
drum stick.
FULL SITE LICENCE
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Scissors
Test tube rack
Rubber bands
Test tube rack
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5F27 Percussion instruments: musical bottles
Retort stand
Collection
of set
identical
100
glass
ml beaker
bottles
Beaker
Cable 250ml
string Test tube 19mm
1
2
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Use wine bottles with screw on lids.
Drill two holes in each lid then feed a
piece of cable through the holes from
which to hang the bottle.
Add some water to the bottle
then screw the lid back on.
3
4
Holding the string with one hand,
tap the bottle with the other and
observe the sound that it produces.
Increase the amount of water in
the bottle and note how the pitch
changes.
What happens to the pitch of the vibrating bottle as you increase the amount of water it
carries?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
How does the pitch of a vibrating objects depend on its mass? ………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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5F28 Make a rain stick
Retortcardboard
Large
stand set cylinder
100 ml
(used
beaker
for packaging)
Beaker 250ml
Drill and
Test
3 mm/4
tube 19mm
mm bits Test
Kebab
tubesticks
rack
1
Drill 4mm holes in a cardboard
mailing tube or a section of PVC
tubing as indicated opposite.
Turn the tube as you push it
through the vice.
3
FULL SITE LICENCE
2
Test
Rice tube
Lentils
rack
Test tube rack
Once you have completed one set
of 4mm holes select a 3mm drill.
Insert into each 4mm hole then
drill through the other side of the
tube.
3
Push the pointed end of a kebab
stick through each pair of
4mm/3mm holes. It should fit
easily through the 4mm hole but
tightly into the 3mm hole.
4
Tidy up the rain stick by
breaking off all the protruding
kebab sticks then file and sand
down the ends so that the
surface is flat. Finally add glue
to each 4mm hole so that the
kebab sticks are held firmly
in place.
5
Find an appropriate sized plastic
lid to stick on one end of the bottle
then add a mixture of rice, lentils
and nails to get the characteristic
rain sound.
6
Seal the rain stick with another
plastic lid then decorate it.
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5F29 Examining guitars
Retort stand
Acoustic
guitar
set
1
100 ml beaker
Beaker 250ml
Test tube 19mm
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Find an acoustic or Spanish guitar
then demonstrate how the pitch is
varied by .....
.......changing the length of the
vibrating string by pressing your
finger on the frets.
.....tightening or
loosening the guitar string.
.........changing the mass of
the sting.
2
FULL SITE LICENCE
Ask the children how the volume
produced by a guitar string can
be varied.
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5F30 Make a guitar
Print
Retort
and
stand
photocopy
set
template
100 ml beaker
(followingBeaker
page) 250ml
Shoe box
Test tube
Scissors
19mm
1
Test
Fasteners
tube rackElastic
Test
bands
tube rack
Glue Test tube rack
Draw and cut out a circular hole
in a shoe box lid as shown below.
Make 6 holes in the box lid then
insert brass paper fasteners to
hold the rubber bands in position.
2
!
3
To make the bridge, stick the
template (see following page) to
some card (cereal packet) then
cut out.
4
Fold the card down the middle
then cut out six notches for the
strings. Finally stick the bridge
to the shoe box lid by folding
and glueing the tabs.
5
FULL SITE LICENCE
Use a well ventilated
area for gluing.
Make your strings by cutting six
rubber bands. To finish, tie the
strings to the paper fasteners,
positioning each in its corresponding
notch on the bridge.
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fo
ld
ld
fo
5F30 Make a guitar
fo
ld
fo
ld
fold
cut notches
fold
cut notches
FULL SITE LICENCE
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Equipment
5F31 Make a didgeree doo
Retort
PVC
tubing
stand
about
set 40 100
mm diameter
ml beaker36 mm
Beaker
hole 250ml
Hack saw
Test tube
Beeswax
19mm
1
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
To make a didgereedoo you will
need to cut a section of PVC tubing
about 1m to 1.5m long. For children
the best diameter tubing is 40mm
(36mm hole).
2
Once you have cut the tubing make
the ends smooth by sanding down.
3
To make the mouthpiece you need
to use beeswax. First soften a block
of beeswax by leaving it in a plastic
cup on top of a radiator or by using a
hair drier.
4
FULL SITE LICENCE
Test tube rack
Heat it until it is soft enough to squeeze
in your hand like plasticine. Then, form
out a thin strip about 12 cm long and 2cm
wide and press it firmly into inside of the
mouth of the PVC piping as indicated below.
5
Press some wax over the edge of the
piping wax so as to form a soft cushion
for the lips when playing.
6
Allow the wax to harden and then
follow the how to play instructions
on this video link.
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5F32 Pan pipes using straws
Retort straws
Plastic
stand set Duck
100tape
ml beaker
Scissors
Beaker
Stiff
250ml
card Test
Glue
tube
gun19mm
C
D
E
F
A
Test tube rack
B
1
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Cut some drinking straws to
the lengths shown opposite.
Try to find straws that are
fairly wide to make it easier
to play the different notes.
Straws found in hamburger
take-aways are pretty useful!
Duck tape
89mm
105mm
121mm
133mm
Cut out some stiff card to
provide backing then stick
146mm
the straws to the card using
glue and duck tape as indicated
161mm
2
opposite.
3
FULL SITE LICENCE
Using hot glue seal the ends of
each straw so that air cannot
escape. If you do not have a
glue gun use small balls of
modelling clay.
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5F33 Pan pipes: using plastic overflow piping
Retort
PVC
overflow
stand set
pipe
C
100
12 mm
ml beaker
dowel
D
E
Hack
Beaker
saw
250mlFine sand
Test paper
tube 19mm
Small Test
section
tube
ofrack
MDF or Test
plywood
tube rack
Glue gun
Test tube rack
F
A
B
1
2
29cm
32cm
19cm
22cm
26cm
16cm
Use a saw to cut sections
of 15mm PVC overflow pipe
to the lengths indicated in
the diagram on the left.
Cut 2cm sections of 12mm dowel
and insert into each pipe to a
depth of 1cm. This should be a
very tight fit
10cm
3
FULL SITE LICENCE
Use a section of 4mm MDF (about
10cm x 7cm) for the backing then
hot glue the pipes to it.
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5F34 Musical bottles
Retort stand
Collection
of identical
set
100
plastic
ml beaker
bottles Beaker 250ml
Test tube 19mm
1
2
3
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
Test tube rack
You need a collection of identical
plastic bottles.
Fill each bottle with water to
a different level.
Now place your upper lip over
the top of the bottles and blow
into them noting the different
sounds that you can make.
What is vibrating, the bottle or the air inside the bottle? …………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
What happens to the pitch of the note as you increase the height of the water level? ……………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
A girl blows into the bottles below. Referring to the PITCH of the sound produced, write the
words highest, lowest and middle in the correct box.
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