We know we can hear sound made by musical instruments, radios, car horns and voices, but did you know there is ... Put y
Sound Waves
Astronomer Amy Mainzer shares her love of science with Ready Jet Go fans in her science videos on topics such as sound waves, asteroids, and orbits. In this activity, your child can explore the science of sound by conducting a simple experiment.
How to Make Sounds Waves Visible We know we can hear sound made by musical instruments, radios, car horns and voices, but did you know there is also a way we can “see” sound? In this activity, your child will use different noise making objects to cause sound waves and make sand visibly move.
While You Play Sound is a vibration, or wave, that travels through the air. Sound waves are invisible to our eyes; unless we find a way to make the sound waves move something that we can see. Before you try this experiment on your own, watch the Ready Jet Go video ‘Sound Waves’ at: pbskids.org/video/ready-jet-go/2365838214 to see astronaut Amy Mainzer demonstrate one way to see sound waves. After watching the video and completing the experiment, talk about what you observed. 1.
Which noise making objects made the sand move more or jump higher?
The Science Behind the Fun Physical Science: Your child is learning that sound waves can cause small, nearby objects to vibrate and move.
2. What did the sand look like when it moved? 3. When did the sand start and stop moving? 4. Are there other noise making objects that you think will make the sand move more or jump higher?
Sound Waves What you’ll need • Cereal bowl or small mixing bowl • Plastic kitchen wrap (commonly known as Saran Wrap or Cling Wrap) • 1/4 teaspoon of sand (alternatives: sugar or salt)
• Noise making items (options include using your voice to hum, banging a metal spoon on a metal baking pan, a noise maker/party blower, or a musical instrument)
Directions
Step 1 Wrap a bowl with the plastic kitchen wrap. Be sure to create a tight cover across the top of the bowl as if you were creating a drum.
Step 2 Gently sprinkle about ¼ teaspoon of sand onto the kitchen wrap.
1
2
Step 3 Put your mouth near, but not on, the bowl. Make humming noises. Does the sand move?
3
Step 4 Try making noise with other items such as a banging on a metal baking pan with a spoon. Remember to place the object very near to, but not touching the bowl. Does the sand move?
4
Step 5 Try the experiment with various noise making objects from around your house such as a noise maker/party blower or a musical instrument.
5
More ways to play Ready Jet Go! • Sound Waves Visit: pbskids.org/video/ready-jet-go/2365838214 • Sound Collage Visit: pbskids.org/video/ready-jet-go/2365687293
9
The contents of this release were developed under a grant from the Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. The project is funded by a Ready To Learn grant (PR/AWARD No. U295A150003-16, CFDA No. 84.295A) provided by the Department of Education to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting; All rights reserved; Ready Jet Go! and the Ready Jet Go logo are registered trademarks of Jet Propulsion, LLC. © 2017 Jet Propulsion, LLC; PBS KIDS and the PBS KIDS Logo are registered trademarks of Public Broadcasting Service. Used with permission.
