12 Sound energy
Tin Can Telephone (with cups)
Cost: Less than $3.00 ~$5.00 Difficulty: Low Time: Hour Continuous: No
Summary:
Students make a function nonelectric telephone that can both send and receive sounds over a predetermined distance.
ELO’s – Describe how sound travels through different media, model and analyze a string telephone. Recognize that technology has helped people communicate over long distances, refine understanding of measurements (distance), vibration and sound relationship, observation, discussion, building a hypothesis, critical thinking.
Supplies needed:
· Cups,
· string,
· paperclips (optional),
· scissors
(Optional): markers, decorative paper, glitter, and paint for making the telephone extra fancy!
Activity
1) Take your string and cut off a fairly long length to create distance between you and your partner. The more length you have the more impressive the activity will Make sure you have space. The string will need to be taut for sound to properly travel.
2) Take the scissors and make a small hole in the bottom of each of your cups in order to feed the string through.
Pro-tip: Make sure that the holes are not too big else the string will not stay in place after tying a knot.
3) Tie one end in a knot or tie string to an optional The paperclip will prevent the string from pulling back through the hole.
4) Feed opposite end of the string through your second
5) Tie off end similar to that of the first
6) Make sure the string between the cups is
7) One person should try speaking into the cup, while the other person (Try using it in a quiet room).
- 8) At least some kind of sound should have been If you are having difficulties, check the string and make sure it is still connected between both cups.
9) Pass out copies of the String Telephone Activity Handout on the next page or reference it and write on the board with students.
String Telephone Activity Handout for Students
1) How well did you string telephone work? If it didn’t work well, what caused the problem?
2) Where do soundwaves travel in their string telephone? Have the students explain the process. Some students may be able to explain it better by drawing than Students can also draw in the space below.
3) How could we make this device work better?