Catching the Sound Wave

Before I dive into sound waves perhaps I will share a TV episode on sound waves.  Do you remember Ms. Frizzle? Sure you do! She made learning scientific topics quite fun.  Check out her students at the sound museum and everything they learn about sound.

How was that? What about those really big vocabulary terms Ms. Frizzle used throughout the show! Now can you answer these questions?

1. How does sound travel?
2. What is the difference between low and high sounds?

I put together some images that we will discuss in class, but only as it relates to more common everyday experiences that you go through.

 When sound waves reflect it is called echoing. I am sure you have heard your voice bounce back at you a time or two.  What about when your one place and you hear a sound from another place? Perhaps, you can recall a time when you were walking down one hall, but could hear voices in another hall.  When sound goes through a narrow opening and spreads out it is called diffraction.  When the sound moves around a barrier, it is also called diffraction.

 Now, I sure you remember when your parents come to your room and have to tell you to turn your music down.  Well why is it that the sound in your room is much louder than the sound outside your room and you haven't even touched the volume?  This is where your walls play a role.  While the intensity of the sound within the room is high, as the sound travels some of it is absorbed (taken in like water in a sponge) into the walls. This makes the sound on the outside of the room less intense.

Before I tell you more about pitch and frequency, check out this link and see what influences these aspects of a sound. Then when you are done with that link, check out this one as well. When you are done with that link, then check out the simulation below, by clicking the link provided.

http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/sound

Click the link below to begin.

I have put together a quiz for you to try. It will be up each week of this unit.  How much do you know about sound waves? Link to test...


I found another website that shares similar information, but I have annotated it so that you can focus on the key areas. Click here!

Have you ever wondered about the why the sound changes from a siren as it passes by? Watch this video!



Music versus Noise:  What is the difference between the two? The answer is here!

Surprise, Surprise! Here is a podcast from a small group of students talking through the Properties of Waves lab assignment.  Have a listen!

Alright, back to sound waves.  I just came across this new application where you can watch 20 second segments of video and answer comprehension questions.  Are you up for a challenge? Go ahead and play and let me know your score! Good luck!



Okay, if you have made it to the bottom of this screen then here is something extra special for you.  Below is an infographic with a general idea about what we will learn about sound.  Remember you will get all the details in class, but you will have at least one more tool in your learning power pack.

(c) M. Prince, 2013

You can download a copy here!