Close your eyes for a minute. What are some things that you can hear?

Some things you can hear when you close your eyes might be fans, people talking, music playing and cars going by. There are many more sounds you might be able to hear.

How are you able to hear things?

Ears give us our sense of hearing. Vibrations go into your ears and vibrate something called your eardrum.

What are some examples of things that vibrate?

Some things that vibrate include speakers, guitar strings and rubber bands.

What kinds of musical instruments have you heard before?

Some instruments you may have heard before include drums, a piano, a guitar and a flute.

How are you able to make sounds?

You can make sounds by talking, singing or playing an instrument.

What is the loudest sound you have ever heard? What about the quietest sound?

Some really loud sounds you might hear include sirens, explosions or roars. Some quiet sounds you might hear include a whisper, a kitten purring or the wind blowing.

Why can’t we always see vibrations that sounds make?

They can happen really fast, sometimes thousands of times each second.

If we can’t see vibrations, how do we know they are happening?

We can make vibrations visible in many ways such as using a tuning fork and putting it in water. You can also feel your own throat while humming or putting paint inside a speaker. You can also film things vibrating with a special slow motion camera.

Why do we feel vibrations when we hum?

When your vocal cords vibrate, they make sound. Anytime you speak, your vocal cords are vibrating. The shape of your tongue and mouth also help you make different sounds.

How do different guitar strings make different sounds?

Different strings have different thicknesses. This effects how fast the string vibrates which changes the sound.

Why do drums sound different than cymbals?

They vibrate differently because they are made of different materials. Different sized drums can also make different sounds depending on how fast they vibrate.

How can a loud speaker cause things around it to vibrate?

The speaker makes the air around it vibrate. When a loud sound moves through the air it makes other objects near it vibrate, too.

Close your eyes for a minute. What are some things that you can hear?

Some things you can hear when you close your eyes might be fans, people talking, music playing and cars going by. There are many more sounds you might be able to hear.

How are you able to hear things?

Ears give us our sense of hearing. Vibrations go into your ears and vibrate something called your eardrum.

What are some examples of things that vibrate?

Some things that vibrate include speakers, guitar strings and rubber bands.

What kinds of musical instruments have you heard before?

Some instruments you may have heard before include drums, a piano, a guitar and a flute.

How are you able to make sounds?

You can make sounds by talking, singing or playing an instrument.

What is the loudest sound you have ever heard? What about the quietest sound?

Some really loud sounds you might hear include sirens, explosions or roars. Some quiet sounds you might hear include a whisper, a kitten purring or the wind blowing.

Why can’t we always see vibrations that sounds make?

They can happen really fast, sometimes thousands of times each second.

If we can’t see vibrations, how do we know they are happening?

We can make vibrations visible in many ways such as using a tuning fork and putting it in water. You can also feel your own throat while humming or putting paint inside a speaker. You can also film things vibrating with a special slow motion camera.

Why do we feel vibrations when we hum?

When your vocal cords vibrate, they make sound. Anytime you speak, your vocal cords are vibrating. The shape of your tongue and mouth also help you make different sounds.

How do different guitar strings make different sounds?

Different strings have different thicknesses. This effects how fast the string vibrates which changes the sound.

Why do drums sound different than cymbals?

They vibrate differently because they are made of different materials. Different sized drums can also make different sounds depending on how fast they vibrate.

How can a loud speaker cause things around it to vibrate?

The speaker makes the air around it vibrate. When a loud sound moves through the air it makes other objects near it vibrate, too.

Introduction to Sound

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DEFINITION OF SOUND

Sound is caused by vibrations that travel through the air. These vibrations can cause other things to vibrate, too. We hear sound with our sense of hearing, which is made possible by our ears.

To better understand how sound works…

DEFINITION OF SOUND. Sound is caused by vibrations that travel through the air. These vibrations can cause other things to vibrate, too. We hear sound with our sense of hearing, which is made possible by our ears. To better understand how sound works…

LET’S BREAK IT DOWN!

Instruments make vibrations.

guitar string vibrates close up making sound

When you play an instrument such as a guitar, you are causing vibrations that make sound. The guitar strings move back and forth really fast when you pluck them.

Instruments make vibrations. When you play an instrument such as a guitar, you are causing vibrations that make sound. The guitar strings move back and forth really fast when you pluck them.

Your voice makes vibrations.

scientist and kids hum to feel the sound vibrations in their vocal cords

If you place your hand on your throat and hum, you can feel the vibrations of your vocal cords. Your vocal cords vibrate to make sound.

Your voice makes vibrations. If you place your hand on your throat and hum, you can feel the vibrations of your vocal cords. Your vocal cords vibrate to make sound.

It’s hard to see vibrations.

tuning fork vibrations make water splash out of the glass

You can’t always see sound waves because they are vibrating so fast. Placing a vibrating tuning fork in water can help you see the vibrations.

It’s hard to see vibrations. You can’t always see sound waves because they are vibrating so fast. Placing a vibrating tuning fork in water can help you see the vibrations.

Sound makes some objects vibrate.

sprinkles dance to the sound of music on top of plastic wrap

Loud sounds can make other things move. If you place sprinkles on a flat surface near a speaker, the sprinkles will vibrate.

Sound makes some objects vibrate. Loud sounds can make other things move. If you place sprinkles on a flat surface near a speaker, the sprinkles will vibrate.

Some very loud sounds cause strong vibrations.

Some sound vibrations are so strong they can even break glass! A very loud and deep sound caused this glass to break.

Some very loud sounds cause strong vibrations. Some sound vibrations are so strong they can even break glass! A very loud and deep sound caused this glass to break.

Teacher Resources

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Introduction to Sound

Discussion Questions

Vocabulary

Reading Material

LET’S BREAK IT DOWN!

Instruments make vibrations.

Your voice makes vibrations.

It’s hard to see vibrations.

Sound makes some objects vibrate.

Some very loud sounds cause strong vibrations.

DIY Activity Guide

Teacher Resources

Teacher Resources

Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan

Teacher Guide

Answer Key

Assessment

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