Light and sound: Video playlist

An investigation using pieces of string to produce sounds with different pitches. A string has been attached to a weight. When the string is plucked, it is easy to see the vibrations producing the sound. When extra weights are added, the pitch becomes higher as the string becomes tighter and vibrate faster. The pitch of the string can be affected by its length and thickness.

Students could experiment with different sound sources, as well as their own voices, to explore the connection between vibration and sound. Students could be given boxes with rubber bands around them and have fun discovering the sounds they can make by plucking the rubber bands. How can they make the sound deeper or higher? They could also be shown a tuning fork and what happens when it is dipped in water.