How to Recreate a Laser Beam Sound

Slinky

It is relatively easy to recreate those classic blaster noises from "Star Wars," and they are sure to bring lots of fun! Just follow these steps and you'll be reenacting "The Emperor Strikes Back" in no time.

Things You'll Need

• Long slinky
• Amplifying device (for example, cup, cone, microphone)
• Two people

Instructions

Making the Laser Sound

1. First, you'll need to acquire a slinky. Make sure the slinky is relatively long, around 20 to 30 feet. Don't use a plastic slinky in place of a metal one, for a plastic slinky will not create the same sound as a metal one. Usually, you will want the diameter of the slinky to be around 2 to 3 inches.

2. Now, you need to find an amplifier. This can come in the form of a paper or foam cup, a plastic cone, or a microphone plugged into speakers. Whatever you choose, make sure at least one end of it can fit between two twists of the slinky.

3. To construct this sound-producing device, stretch out the slinky until only 10 to 15 coils are left at each end between two people. Then, place the amplifying device between two coils of the slinky. Make sure to hold the slinky off the ground and with enough tension so it is not drooping too much.

4. To create the noise, you must send a wave through the slinky. This wave should be a compressional wave which travels in only one direction, from one end of the slinky to the other.

5. To create the wave, have one person hold onto the slinky tightly on one end while the other person pulls coil by coil towards them until the slinky is at a relatively high tension. Then, release the coils that were pulled to release a wave through the slinky. This wave will be amplified in the amplification device and should create a laser beam sound.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't send two waves at once in opposite directions. Make sure the amplifying device does not fall out of the slinky when tension is applied.