The Science behind the Show

Sound is a vibration that moves through materials in the form The number of vibrations each second is known as the
GOOD VIBRATIONS
of a wave. frequency of the wave. Humans can only hear sounds that

A sound wave is produced when an object vibrates. As it

have a frequency between 20–20,000Hz (vibrations per Welcome to Generation Science! What we do
second). Different animals have different ranges of hearing,
vibrates back and forth it bumps into neighbouring molecules for example cats: 80–60,000Hz, and dolphins: 110– Each show or workshop is fully equipped and delivered by
in the air, causing them to start vibrating themselves. They Brought to you by the Edinburgh International Science trained science communicators. We create fun, interactive
130,000Hz.
also bump into neighbouring molecules and this process Festival, our shows and workshops spark pupils’ curiosity environments where everyone gets out of their seats and gets
passes the vibration from molecule to molecule, moving Sound needs a material in order to travel. In a vacuum no and bring science to life. involved. Our inspiring demonstrations and engaging activities
through the air. It enters our ears and vibrates our ear drums sound can travel (or be heard) as there are no molecules are linked to the Curriculum for Excellence, explaining key
and the brain converts this vibration into a sound we hear. for the vibration to pass through. The speed at which concepts in a unique and memorable way.
the vibrations travel through a material depends on its
A sound wave is a longitudinal wave, not like waves in temperature, whether it is a solid, liquid or gas and its
the ocean. It is the movement of a compression (where the density, because the spacing between the particles are
molecules get close together) and a rarefaction (where the different in each of these cases. Event Description Learning Outcomes
molecules get far apart). As the molecules vibrate back and
forth, compressions and rarefactions move through the air. Modern technology stores music and sounds digitally. Vinyl Good Vibrations is an interactive show which follows two • Explain that sound is produced by objects vibrating
No material is moved as the sound moves. records are analogue recordings. Their surfaces contain friends as they discover how to create their own music. • Describe that sound travels through a medium by passing
tiny grooves filled with lots of varying bumps. As a record Their journey begins by exploring sound; what it is, how a vibration on from particle to particle
Volume is a measure of how much energy a sound wave has. spins, a needle runs along the grooves and over the bumps, it’s produced and how to make different sounds. They then
The more energy a sound wave has, the louder the sound is. • Recognise that sound travels faster through a solid than
causing movement up and down. This vibration is then finish their exploration by looking at how modern technology
In physical terms, the volume is how large the vibration is - through a liquid and faster through a liquid than a gas
amplified to an audible level. allows us to vary and make sounds by creating a piece of
the larger the vibration, the louder the sound. music with the class. • Recall that we hear sound because when our ear drum
A digital recording is a stream of numbers which represent vibrates an electrical signal is created and sent to the
‘Pitch’ is the word used to describe whether a sound is these bumps. A digital recording takes a sample of a sound brain. The brain then interprets this signal as a sound.
high or low. Physically, pitch is a measure of the number Curriculum Links
wave and allocates a number to it which corresponds to the • Define pitch as the word used to describe how high or low
of vibrations every second. If there are a high number of size of the vibration. By increasing the number of samples Good Vibrations complements the following experiences and a note is
vibrations per second, the sound will be a high note. If the made every second and the accuracy of the allocated outcomes:
number of vibrations per second is low then the sound will be • Explain that the pitch of a sound depends on the speed
number, the accuracy of the stored sound can be increased. SCN 1-11a: By collaborating in experiments on different
low or deep. that vibrations are occurring. The more frequent the
ways of producing sounds from vibrations, I can demonstrate vibration, the higher the pitch
how to change the pitch of the sound.
• Recall that there are some sounds that humans can’t hear
SCN 2-11a: Through research on how animals • Describe that the volume of a sound depends on the size
communicate, I can explain how sound vibrations are of the vibrations
carried by waves through air, water and other media
• Recognise that digital music allows easy manipulation of
music and sounds

Some Useful Links

[Link]/en/Education/DIY-science
The re-development of Generation Science teacher notes has been made
[Link]/gamesactivities/[Link] possible by a grant from the Texas Instruments Community Fund

Scottish Charity Registration Number: SC003790

[Link]/education
Generation Science, Harbourside House, 110 Commercial Street, Edinburgh, EH6 6NF
FOLLOW-UP CLASSROOM ACTIVITY 1 FOLLOW-UP CLASSROOM ACTIVITY 2
Lollipop Player Ear Gong
You will need: You will need:
• 2 lollipop/craft sticks (flat) • String
• 1 large rubber band • A metal spoon
• 2 small rubber bands (or any other piece of metal cutlery)
• 1 drinking straw • A wooden spoon
• Scissors • Different objects to test

1. C
 ut two pieces off the straw which are each slightly 2. T ake one of the lollipop sticks and stretch
longer than the width of the lollipop stick. the large rubber band over it lengthways.

1. Take approximately 50cm of string and tie it securely to 2. Wrap the other end of the piece of string a few times
roughly the middle of the metal spoon. around your index finger and place this finger in your ear.

3. S
 lip one piece of the small straw cut-offs underneath the 4. P
 lace the other lollipop stick on top of the first so
rubber band, around 2cm from the end of the stick. Place that the straws are sandwiched between. Secure
the other piece of straw over the rubber band in the the sticks together at each end using the small
same position at the other end of the stick. rubber bands, but not too tight.

4. Either with your other hand or with a friend’s help, gently hit
the metal spoon with the wooden spoon. How does it sound?
5. T o play, hold your Lollipop Player at each end Take your finger out of your ear and hit it again; does it sound
and blow between the lolly sticks, the same way 3. Lean forward and let the spoon and string hang freely. different?
you would a harmonica.
Try tying other objects to the string like a wooden spoon, a table leg, a slinky. Each time make
sure that the string is taught and not touching anything but the object it is tied [Link]
Try moving the piece of straw up and down the lollipop. Does it make a difference to the sound
you produce? Blow harder. What does this do to the noise? Explanation
To be able to hear a sound, vibrations When the metal spoon is hit it vibrates, into the ear, the vibration produced
Explanation must get passed from particle to particle producing a sound. When our finger is by the spoon also vibrates the string.
until they reach our ear drums inside not in our ear, the only way to hear this The vibration in this instance can travel
Sounds are produced when objects and fewer vibrations happening Shorter objects vibrate faster than our ears. So there must be a material sound is from the vibrations travelling directly up the string, through the finger
vibrate. When you blow between the every second produce lower sounds. longer ones and so produce a higher between our ears and the vibration for through the air. These vibrations radiate and into the ear meaning the sound is
lollipop sticks it causes the rubber Blowing harder makes the rubber sound. Moving the straw changes the the sound to travel through. Sound can out in all directions so the amount louder.
band to vibrate and produce a band vibrate more and so produces length of the rubber band vibrating travel through a gas, liquid and a solid; of vibration that reaches our ears is
sound. Lots of vibrations happening a higher pitched noise. and therefore changes the sound. travelling fastest through a solid because quite small and therefore quite quiet.
every second produce high sounds of the tight bonds in the material. However, when a finger is placed

GOOD VIBRATIONS GOOD VIBRATIONS