How can you make sound waves visible?

How can you make sound waves visible?
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# Unit Review: Anchor Phenomenon
  • How does each device make sound waves visible?
  • What patterns do you notice?

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# Unit Review: Key Concepts
  • Sound is a vibration.
  • Sound needs something to travel through, like air, water, or a solid.
  • Sound waves have different wavelengths, which result in different pitches.
  • Higher-pitched sounds have shorter wavelengths.
  • Lower-pitched sounds have longer wavelengths.
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# Unit Review: Seeing Sound Model

If you haven't completed your final Seeing Sound Model, now is the time to do so.

Your teacher will review how each device shows sound waves.

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In today's activity, you'll use what you've learned about sound and sound waves to build a device that uses the vibrations of sound to make visible patterns.

You’ve been invited to make an exhibit for the International Museum of Interesting Sounds. The museum wants to fill a room with devices that make sound waves visible. It's up to you to design, build, and test your unique Sound Wave Watcher for the exhibit.

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Acoustic Guitar Oscillating E String by Image used under license from shutterstock.com: Zoulou_55
Broken Car Windshield by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: Guas
Classice Coaches whistle by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: FabrikaSimf
Colored paper isolated on white by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: MNI
Funny raccoon sitting by Image used under license from shutterstock.com: Sonsedska Yuliia
Pans Pots realistic set frying pan by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: Vipman
Pepper Mills on white background by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com:Jiang Hongyan
Side view of raccoon procyon lotor by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: Eric Isselee
Wrapping plastic sheet by Image used under license from Shutterstock.com: AlenKadr
Yellow Sine Wave on Digital oscilloscope by Image used under license from shutterstock.com: OhShurat
Credits

Activity Prep

Print Prep

In the Performance Task, students will design and build a device that uses the vibrations of sound to make visible patterns.

Preview activity

In this performance task, students apply what they've learned about sound and sound waves by building their own Sound Wave Watcher that uses the vibrations of sound to make visible patterns.

Step 1: Plan ahead

Students may bring in materials and objects from home to use in their machines.

Step 2: Gather supplies

Students will work in pairs to share ideas, but each student will build their own Sound Wave Watcher.

Below we provide a list of basic supplies that we have used in making Sound Wave Watchers. We encourage you to reuse supplies from the paper cup telephone activity and to raid your recycling bin and craft box for additional supplies. You can use those supplies to substitute for or supplement our list.

Possible sound detectors

  • cling wrap (vibrates easily when pulled taut)
  • sand, glitter, or pepper to reveal vibrations
  • construction paper (vibrates relatively easily; great for making a sound box)
  • water (potentially messy, but a great way to see vibrations)

Construction & multipurpose materials

  • tape or stickers (to be used in place of tape for construction)
  • paper clips or binder clips or clothes pins
  • pipe cleaners
  • plastic cups
  • string (can be a sound maker or a sound transmitter)

Sound makers

  • pencils (to use for thumping on things)
  • musical instruments you can borrow (harmonicas, drums, whistles)
  • musical instruments you make (like pot lids or tin cans to thump on)

In addition, students will need the following tools to share:

  • scissors
  • paper punch

Step 3: Print out worksheets

Each student will need:

Unit Review

30 mins

Hands-On Activity

120 mins

Extend this lesson

Download this Lesson to your device so you can play it offline: