Ideas for Making an Instrument for a Science Project
Sound is scientific concept that is defined as the vibration of air molecules in the pattern of waves. One of the best ways to learn about the science of sound is to construct a musical instrument. You can make a variety of simple instruments as science projects. Making instruments allows students to be creative as well. You can make instruments for science projects by combining some simple supplies in various ways.
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Bottle Pitches
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This science project demonstrates how the amount of space within a bottle affects its pitch. For this project, collect glass or plastic bottles of the same shape and size. Pour water into the bottles in varying amounts. If you increase the water gradually bottle by bottle, you can create ascending and descending pitches. Blow across the tops of the bottles to play simple melodies. You may have to add a little more water or pour a little out until you get the bottles tuned like you want them. Adding food coloring to the water is a way to add a little visual pizazz to the project as well. Once you've played the bottles, you can write about your process as well as your results. The results of this project show that the more space a bottle has inside, the lower its pitch. Less space, or more liquid, inside the bottle will create a higher pitch.
Sound Wave Movement
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This project allows students to make a simple drum and then to demonstrate the movement of sound waves with this drum. Create a drum by cleaning out an empty coffee can and decorating the outside of the can with paint or markers. Make a mallet for the drum by painting a wooden dowel. You can then demonstrate the movement of sound waves by placing some raw rice onto a paper plate. Have someone hold the plate as you strike the drum next to it. Point the head of the drum toward the plate as you play it. The sound waves coming from the drum will cause the rice to jump around on the plate, thereby demonstrating the movement of sound waves.
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Box Guitar
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You can demonstrate how string size and tension affect the pitch of a string in this science project. Cut a hole in the lid of an old shoe box. Stretch rubber bands of differing sizes and thicknesses around the box so that they stretch over the hole. Pluck the rubber bands to hear various pitches. Change the pitches by pulling the rubber bands tighter or looser. You can then explain how thicker, looser rubber bands create lower pitches, while thinner, tighter rubber bands create higher pitches. You also may want to decorate your box guitar with paint, stickers or markers.
Hose Trumpet
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This science project shows how various vibrations create different pitches. You can make a "trumpet" from a water hose by cutting a 3-foot piece of hose and doubling it into a loop. Tape the hose together to secure the loop. Tape a funnel to one end of the hose and a trumpet mouthpiece to the other end. If you don't have a trumpet mouthpiece, you can still play the instrument without it. Place your lips to the mouthpiece (or to the end of the hose where the mouthpiece should be) and vibrate your lips. Experiment with different types of vibrations. The tighter your lips and the faster you vibrate them, the higher the pitch will be. If you loosen your lips and vibrate them a little slower, the pitch will be lower.
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References
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