Sound Science Basics
What causes sound to happen in the first place?
Vibrations
What is amplitude?
The height of a wave
What is one thing you should change when testing a new idea in an experiment?
Only one variable
What does it mean when energy transfers?
Energy moves from one object to another
Why would a person weigh less on the Moon than on Earth?
The Moon has weaker gravity
What must sound travel through in order to be heard?
Matter (solid, liquid, or gas)
How does amplitude affect sound?
Bigger amplitude = louder sound
Why is it important to keep everything else the same in an experiment?
To make it a fair test
Give an example of energy changing forms.
Motion to sound, light to heat, etc.
What causes day and night on Earth?
Earth rotating on its axis
Why can’t you hear sound in outer space?
There is no matter (no air) for sound to travel through
How does wavelength relate to pitch?
Shorter wavelength = higher pitch; longer wavelength = lower pitch
If you are designing a device to send sound farther, what might you try changing?
Material, length, tightness, medium, etc.
Where does most energy on Earth originally come from?
The Sun
Explain how energy moves when someone speaks and another person hears them.
Voice creates vibrations → vibrations travel through air → reach ears → eardrum vibrates
Two sounds are equally loud, but one is high-pitched and one is low-pitched. What must be different about their waves?
Their wavelengths (and frequency)
Why do scientists sometimes use models instead of the real object?
Too big, too small, too dangerous, or too complex
During a collision, does energy disappear? Explain.
No, it transfers or changes form
How does gravity affect how high you can jump?
Stronger gravity = lower jumps
weaker gravity = higher jumps