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!

December 12 - 16

We will resume the Wave unit after the holiday break. This week will will recap the year by working on the Standards Project.  There are no CRCT pink slips until after the break. There are no journals this week.

Monday - Vocabulary Test
Wednesday  - Science Midterm

Waves Week 3 Agenda

December 5th - Start notes on EM Waves;  3rd period turns in CRCT 9 and receives CRCT 10. 


December 6th - Start Wave Characteristics Notes; 4th  period turns in CRCT 9 and receives CRCT 10. 

December 7th - Early Release/No Science Help Session; Continue notes from yesterday; 5th  period turns in CRCT 9 and receives CRCT 10. WavesTown activity is due

 

December 8th - 3-5 pennies due today.Foldables Activities (Penny Pyramid and Venn Diagram 3-Tab); 6th  period turns in CRCT 9 and receives CRCT 10.

December 9th - Human Eyes PPT; Journals 25-28 Due. Science Literacy Reports Due (3rd only)

Reminders: Vocabulary Test (12/12); Midterm (12/14); Standards Project (12/12 - 12/16)

Waves Week 2 Agenda

Monday & Tuesday - Introduction to Waves PPT
Wednesday - Water Observational Lab
Thursday - EM Waves video & WavesTown Activity
Friday - EM Waves PPT

CRCT Pink Slip #8 is Due: 
Monday - 3rd
Tuesday  - 4th
Wednesday - 5th
Thursday - 6th
CRCT Pink Slip #9 will be passed based on due date schedule.

Homework: Study vocab for test, CRCT Pink slip, Journal entries 25 & 26 (Students will pull 2 more topics from the list provided here.) Science Literacy Articles and Reports (Advance students only)