Sound Waves
This shows how sounds of different frequencies travel through different
materials
Do - Think - Learn
Sound is caused by something vibrating. We hear sound because our ears
are sensitive to the vibrations. Sound is affected by the material it travels
through.
How will the different materials affect the sound?
Place a material to test in position on top of the speaker.
How has the sound changed?
Select another sound to try.
The Science Bit
When something makes a sound, whether it is an organ or dog barking, some
part of it will be vibrating. These vibrations disturb the air and produce sound
waves. The sound waves travel through the air and if they reach someone’s
ear drum it will begin to vibrate and we hear sound.
In order for sound to be produced and to travel, there must be three things
present:
1. there must be a source of vibration
2. there must be something to carry the waves, such as air
3. there must be something to receive the sound waves
A good conductor of sound will make the sounds travel faster and
further. There are many better conductors of sound than air, for example
liquids such as water and solid substances such as iron and stone. The
following absorb sound and are often used as sound proofing methods:

Rubber

Cork

Cotton

Felt.
Curriculum Links
Ourselves

That we have five senses which allow us to find out about the world
Sound and Hearing

To explore sounds using their sense of hearing

To make observations of sounds by listening carefully

That there are many different sources of sounds

To turn ideas about hearing into questions that can be tested

That we hear with our ears

That we use out sense of hearing for a range of purposes, including
recognising hazards and risks

That there are many different ways of making sounds

That there are many ways of describing sound

To explore sounds using the sense of touch
Changing sounds

That vibrations from sound sources travel through different materials to
the ear

To make careful observations to identify the types of material through
which sound can travels

That some materials are effective in preventing vibrations from sound
sources reaching the ear

To plan a test to measure or observe how well different materials
muffle sound

To use a prediction to help decide what evidence to collect

To devise a fair comparison of different materials

To decide how to use a sound source and a range of different materials
to collect reliable evidence

That the term ‘pitch’ describes how high or low a sound is

That high and low sounds can be loud or soft

That sounds are made when objects or materials vibrate

To make careful observations

To draw conclusions about sounds from their observations

That sounds can be made by air vibrating