Physics of Sound
Investigation 3
Part 1
Sounds Travel through Air and Water
Students observe sound as it travels through air and water with the use of a listening tube, stethoscope and megaphone. The teacher introduces new information about the ear.
3. Lesson set up and Management
Explanation: Using data to construct reasonable explanations. (IP03 2.1.3)
Sound vibrations travel through a medium.
We can observe sound traveling through air and water.
Sound that is directed travels better through air.
Our outer ears are designed to receive, focus and amplify sound.
3. Lesson set up and Management
Materials:
You will need four sets of air materials and four sets of water materials. Half the class will participate in one activity in small groups and half the class will participate in another activity in small groups.
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You will need to practice constructing a listening tube from tag board and brass brads before you share the steps with your students.
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Construct one megaphone for demonstration purposes. Check to make sure the tone generator battery still has power. |
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Practice using a stethoscope before demonstrating it for your students. Four basins of water will be required for the stethoscope activity. |
Use the alcohol to clean the ear pieces. Students will enjoy helping you with this task. |
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You will need copies of Student Response Sheets Nos. 13 – 15.
Some teachers like to use drawings and pictures to add to information about the ear at this point.
Student Management:
Posing questions suggested in the teacher’s guide are very helpful for getting students thinking in these activities. Many students do not expect to hear sounds well through water.
Again, students will need to be reminded to record their observations. Sharing their observations is a valuable activity. You may want to ask them to read directly from their observation sheets.
Discussions are very helpful in this investigation. Students need help to understand that sound travels through a medium. Be sure to discuss these ideas with students after the explorations but before the assessment.
Be sure to read the background for the teacher section of the teacher’s guide. The correct conceptions to many possible student misconceptions are explained here.
In this activity, students use materials such as stethoscopes and water to make their observations of sound. This is a good time to discuss and focus on the nature of responsible behavior. Careful use of the stethoscopes and cleaning of the ear pieces are important safety issues in this activity.
Reading:
Capitalize on the curiosity often created by this investigation and provide non-fiction reading opportunities about the ear and how we hear.