Student Name: ______

Sound Through Matter Lab

Goals:

1.)To investigate how well sound travels through solids, liquids, and gas

2.)To investigate which solids are better at transmitting sound and which solids are better at blocking sound

Directions:

1.)Fill your three zip lock baggies:

  1. Sand – fill one zip lock baggie with sand to the top, do not over stuff
  2. Water – fill a second baggie with water; try to match the amount of water to amount of sand, such that all baggies are nearly the same size
  3. Air – use a straw to blow air into a closed zip lock baggie – like a balloon; you want the size of this baggie to match the size of the sand and water zip lock baggies

2.) Lay the bags filled with matter on the table .

3.) Place one ear to the bag; cover your other ear to reduce outside noise.

4.)Have another group member tap the table near the bag with a pencil. Listen to the loudness of the sound.

5.)Repeat with the rest of the bags; be sure to keep other factors the same – distance between bag and pencil, amount of force used to tap, etc.

6.)Compare the loudness of sound as it travels through a liquid, solid, and gas. The matter that allows the sound to vibrate through the easiest will have the loudest sound.

Predict:

Through which state of matter will sound travel the best?

I predict that ______

______

1. After pressing your ear to the bag with the sand and the air, record which did your group think was louder and therefore allows sound waves to travel better.

2. Now compare water and air. Which carries sound waves better?

3. Now compare sand and water. Which carries sound waves better?

4. Which of the states of matter solid, liquid, or gas allowed the sound waves to travel through it the easiest?

5. Why does your group think this happened?

Part II: You Investigate

Your Tasks:

1.)Find the solid that is the BEST at transferring sound.

2.)Find the solid that is the WEAKEST at transferring sound.

Record your findings here:

7. The solid best at transferring sound was ……

8. The solid weakest at transferring sound was …..

9. Come up with a possible explanation for why one solid is better at transferring sound than others.

______

10. You want to create a sound-proof room (you do not want any sound waves to travel through the waves). What material might you use ? Why would it work?

11. You want to spy on what’s being said in the next room. What might you use to be able to hear the conversation through the wall better? Why would it work?