how sounds travel
You hear thunder a few seconds after you see lightning. What does this tell you about how sound travels compared to light?
Light travels faster than sound, so we see lightning before we hear thunder.
Name two different mediums that can carry sound and one that cannot.
Air and water can carry sound; a vacuum cannot.
A small bird and a large dog both make sounds. Which is likely to have a higher pitch? Why?
The bird has a higher pitch because smaller objects usually make higher-pitched sounds.
Why can you see the Sun even though it is very far away?
Light can travel long distances through space.
Name one natural light source and one artificial light source.
Natural: Sun
Artificial: Light bulb
A bell rings inside a box filled with air, then inside a box with water. In which box would the sound travel faster, and why?
Sound travels faster in water because the particles are closer together than in air.
Why can astronauts see each other talk in space but cannot hear each other without special equipment?
Light can travel in space, but sound cannot because there is no air.
Two drums are hit with the same force. One is small and one is large. How would their sounds be different?
The small drum makes a higher-pitched sound, and the big drum makes a lower-pitched sound.
Light travels in straight lines. How can you prove this using shadows?
Shadows have clear edges because light travels straight and does not bend around objects.
Why is the Moon not considered a light source?
The Moon reflects light from the Sun; it does not produce its own light.
Two students are separated by a wall. One speaks loudly. Explain how the sound reaches the other student.
Sound travels as vibrations through the air and through the wall to reach the other student.
Imagine shouting on the Moon. What would happen to your voice and why?
Your voice would not be heard because there is no air on the Moon to carry sound.
Why does your voice sound louder when you shout but not higher in pitch?
Shouting increases volume, not pitch, because the vibrations are stronger, not faster.
Why can you see your reflection in a mirror but not on a wall?
A mirror reflects light back to your eyes, but a wall scatters light
How does light help plants survive?
light helps plants make food through photosynthesis.
A diver hears a boat motor while underwater. What medium is helping the sound travel?
Water is the medium that helps the sound travel.
Sound travels faster in solids than in gases. Give a real-life example that shows this.
You can hear footsteps faster by putting your ear on the ground because sound travels well through solids.
A violin and a guitar play the same note at the same loudness. Why do they still sound different?
They sound different because each instrument vibrates in a different way.
A flashlight is turned on in a dark room. Explain how the light reaches the walls.
Light travels in straight lines from the flashlight to the walls
A city loses electricity at night. Which light sources could still be used and why
Candles, flashlights, and the Moon can still give light because they do not need electricity.
If sound needs particles to travel, what would happen to sound in outer space? Explain your thinking.
Sound would not be heard because there are no particles in space to carry sound.
A science fiction movie shows explosions making loud sounds in space. What scientific mistake did the movie make?
Sound cannot travel in space, so the explosions would be silent.
Explain how pitch and volume help animals communicate in nature.
Animals use pitch and volume to warn others, attract mates, or show danger.
Why can light travel through empty space, but sound cannot?
Light does not need a medium, but sound needs particles to travel.
Explain how light energy changes into another form of energy in everyday life
Light can change into heat (Sun warming Earth) or electricity (solar panels).