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Why are some sounds high and some sounds low?
Sound, Waves, & Communication Unit | Lesson 4 of 4
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Why are some sounds high and some sounds low?

Sound, Waves, & Communication Unit | Lesson 4 of 4
Lesson narration:
English Spanish
Scroll for prep
Video trouble?

DISCUSS:

What do you think--what makes one sound LOWER and another HIGHER?

Video trouble?
Video trouble?

Get a copy of this worksheet and fill in the two questions you just discussed. (You’ll answer the other questions later.)

High vs low pitch

Video trouble?

DISCUSS: How would you describe the differences between the high-pitched and the low-pitched sound wave?

High vs low pitch

Circle which words you'd use to describe the high-pitched wave versus the low-pitched wave:

Worksheet spread out vs scrunched

Note: Be sure to play with the online oscilloscope we link to in the Extras!

Video trouble?

DISCUSS:

Which of these is the HIGHEST pitch? Explain how you know.

Oscilloscope images

DISCUSS:

Which of these is the LOWEST pitch? Explain how you know.

Oscilloscope images

Video trouble?
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Oscilloscope Experiments

You can continue exploring sound waves with the web-browser oscilloscope on the next slide. It only works in Chrome or Firefox, which you can download for free here: download Chrome or download Firefox.

Here are 3 experiments to try with the oscilloscope:

  1. Sounds that are a mix of pitches make messy waves. Can you find a sound that makes a simple wave? (Try whistling.)
  2. What happens to the oscilloscope picture when you make a sound louder or softer?
  3. What happens when you make a sound higher or lower?
Oscilloscope
Get ready to see sound. This oscilloscope only works in Chrome and Firefox and it requires a microphone on your computer.

When you click this button your browser will ask you permission to use the microphone.

Look at the top of your screen ☝️

Slide Image

sound wave


1 of 8

the way sounds travel in an up-and-down pattern
Video trouble?
Slide Image

oscilloscope


2 of 8

a device that can show what sound waves look like

pitch


3 of 8

how high or how low a sound is when you hear it
Video trouble?
Slide Image

wavelength


4 of 8

the distance between two points of a wave
Slide Image

frequency


5 of 8

a measure of how many waves go by you in a set amount of time

experiment


6 of 8

a test used to discover new information about a question
Video trouble?
Slide Image

amplitude


7 of 8

the height of a wave
Slide Image

volume


8 of 8

how loud a sound is, measured by the height of a sound wave

Image & Video Credits

Mystery Science respects the intellectual property rights of the owners of visual assets. We make every effort to use images and videos under appropriate licenses from the owner or by reaching out to the owner to get explicit permission. If you are the owner of a visual and believe we are using it without permission, please contact us—we will reply promptly and make things right.

Exploration
Relaxing 3 Hour Video of California Ocean Waves by MoneySavingVideos , used under CC BY
three girls laughing and walking by Mat Hayward
girl singing karaoke by Elnur
"the mosquito" by LadyofHats , used under CC BY
17400 Hz 17.4 kHz Sine Wave Sound Frequency Tone Mosquito Tone by Beeps, Chirps and Noise/EpicPuzl781
speaker system by MeemiePhoto
7 Eleven Fukushima Shinchi Town Shop by Kuha455405 , used under CC BY-SA
assembling circuit components by Robert Wydro Studio
black speaker by gualtiero boffi
girl covering her ears by Dean Drobot
hands holding cell phone by Africa Studio
students sitting in class by Rawpixel.com
girl playing flute by aboikis
man playing tuba by Ollyy
man playing flute by charles wong , used under CC BY
young boy playing tuba by jaishaunglover11
man playing guitar isolated on black background by Pressmaster
Schlieren by NASA , used under Public Domain
schlieren effects: book close by Mike Hargather
schlieren effects: audio/sound by Mike Hargather
schlieren effects: bottle rocket by Mike Hargather
ripples in a pond by IRIS EPO
visual: schlieren effects by Mike Hargather
oscilloscope by rwg42985
oscilloscope generator by Academo , used under Public Domain
Other
trombone player by Ollyy
Credits

Featured Reviews

“I love the videos and that I can pause and play as I go. It is nice to add explanation or to give my kids the chance to finish pictures they are drawing.”
· · Teacher
“Kids loved playing with the oscilloscope. The rope activity really made them understand the different wavelengths for high and low pitches.”
· Sherri · Teacher
“We enjoyed the explanation of vibrations, especially seeing the oscilloscope in action. The explanations using musical instruments were very practical and useful. Thank you!”
· Karen · Homeschooler
“The kids totally understood the difference between pitch and volume! It reinforced our Science chapter for the week on energy, including sound energy!”
· Marjie · Teacher
“The class loved the video and the information about the Mosquito device and whether or not they could hear the high-pitched sound. The activity worked well also.”
· Patty · Admin
“Kids were fascinated to see the images of the sound waves coming off the object like ripples in a pond. Next day it rained and as they saw they drips they all correlated to drip ripples to the sound waves.”
· Kenneth · Teacher
“This one blew our minds. Worth the subscription just to teach this unit. Watching sound waves travel through air!?!?! What?!?!”
· Rachel · Teacher
“All three sound wave lessons were a hit (I think I messed up and didn't respond when you asked about the first two. We did all three and the students were SOOOO engaged. I just finished conferences and so many parents said they were coming home both weeks telling them all about sound and the experiments. The students brought supplies to try to improve their cup phones in class and I guess they continued trying to refine them at home. In lesson three we used the online oscilloscope and that was another hit! The effort needed to make the ropes look like high and low soundwaves really brought home the difference of fast and slow vibrations!”
· Christina · Teacher
“The best part was when students connected what they learned in mysteries 1 and 2 to the concepts presented in mystery 3. Thank you!”
· Karen · Teacher
“My students enjoyed the really high pitched sound that I couldn't hear. : ) The visual comparison of the sound waves was very effective. I teach 1st grade so I didn't use the end of the video but the first half was wonderful and appropriate for their level.”
· Kimberly · Admin
“So many parts of this lesson were really engaging for the students! We really enjoyed the on-line oscilloscope!! The "Bouncing Balls and Emojis" were fun! We found out that it's really hard to be completely silent! Even our kitchen refrigerator couldn't keep quiet!”
· · Homeschooler
Lesson narration:
English Spanish

Grade 4

Sound, Waves, & Communication

Sound Waves & Wavelength

4-PS4-1

Activity Prep

Print Prep
In this lesson, students discover that sound is a wave. In the activity, Making Waves, students draw the waves that different sounds make using a virtual oscilloscope, a machine that shows images of sound waves. Then they vibrate a rope to make waves that look like the ones made by the oscilloscope.
Preview activity

I have a Mystery Pack

Be The Vibration worksheet 30 copies
Be The Vibration Answer Key teacher-only resource 1 copy
Sound Vibrations worksheet 30 copies
Sound Vibrations Answer Key teacher-only resource 1 copy
Clotheslines
Cut to 12-15 foot lengths. Jump ropes or telephone cords will also work.
Details
60 feet
Prep Instructions

For the rope activity, you’ll need a smooth, hard floor where you can stretch out a rope that’s 12 to 15 feet long. Students can take turns making waves. We suggest having at least one rope for each group of 8 students.

Prepare the Rope or Clothesline

For each group of students, you’ll need a flexible rope or clothesline measuring 12 to 15 feet in length.

Virtual Oscilloscope Extension (Optional)

In our Extensions section, we include a link to an online oscilloscope that you can use to extend your exploration of the patterns made by sound. Using this tool, students can experiment with different sounds and see the patterns that the waves make.

Exploration

30 mins

Hands-On Activity

30 mins

Grade 4

Sound, Waves, & Communication

Sound Waves & Wavelength

4-PS4-1

Slow internet or video problems?
Credits
 
Waves Tx Lesson 4: Why are some sounds high and some sounds low?

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