Building a Musical Band
During this unit we focused immensely on sound, how it travels, and what kinds of sound waves there are. We studied this topic for a good 3-4 weeks, taking a test at the very end. Here are some vocabulary terms we learned during this project:
1. Wavelength - The distance between successive crests of a wave, especially points in a sound wave or electromagnetic wave.
2. Amplitude - The maximum extent of a vibration
3. Frequency - The rate at which a vibration occurs that constitutes a wave
4. Period - The time required for a pendulum to make one to-and-fro swing
5. Natural Frequency - Vibration rate that an object naturally vibrates at, differs for all materials.
6. Resonance - Forced vibration at the natural frequency that leads to greater amplitude and creates a standing wave
Here are some important notes that we took that made this project possible:
- Sound comes from vibrations
-Pitch: Due to frequency (vibrations per second)
- Solid = best medium for sounds to be conducted
-Liquid = good medium
- Gas = Least conductive medium
- Intensity is proportional to amplitude and is measured in decibels
For this unit we were instructed to make instruments with our assigned groups. In my group it was Lauren Whyte, Ethan Rapp, and myself. We had to make three instruments, one being woodwind, another being a string instrument, and the other being chimes of sorts. This project was the definition of trial and error. We researched non stop in class trying to find ways to make these instruments, gather data, and figure out just how to make the instruments in general. At first we tried making a ukele for the string instrument, but we didn't have the right wire for the strings. We ended up making a basic rubber band guitar. For the wind instrument we attempted to make a clarinet, and that was the instrument we settled on. It did not work very well seeing as we had to make the entire thing by hand. Finally we attempted the chimes. My group was going to do a water xylophone, the kind where you fill pitchers of water with different amounts of water and tap the lid to make a sound. When this failed we made a real xylophone.
Here is the list of materials we used for each instrument:
1. Rubber Band Guitar
-8 rubber bands
- A plastic container
2. Clarinet
- Wood
- Metal Pipe
3. Xylophone
-Metal Pipe
- Wood
-Rubber Bands
Once we made these instruments we had to perform two songs, a song of our choice and a song we made.
Reflection
There were many, many things my group could have done better. For one we could have spent more time researching the instruments, making them easier to make. We also could have spent more time with precision instead of rushing to get it done. My group should have helped each other out more than letting each person make their own instrument.
I learned a lot during this unit. I learned about sound and how it travels and where it can travel. I learned what sound actually is. We had a guest speaker that really enlightened us on his work with sound. All in all this unit was super helpful and I'll be caring this knowledge with me for a long time!
1. Wavelength - The distance between successive crests of a wave, especially points in a sound wave or electromagnetic wave.
2. Amplitude - The maximum extent of a vibration
3. Frequency - The rate at which a vibration occurs that constitutes a wave
4. Period - The time required for a pendulum to make one to-and-fro swing
5. Natural Frequency - Vibration rate that an object naturally vibrates at, differs for all materials.
6. Resonance - Forced vibration at the natural frequency that leads to greater amplitude and creates a standing wave
Here are some important notes that we took that made this project possible:
- Sound comes from vibrations
-Pitch: Due to frequency (vibrations per second)
- Solid = best medium for sounds to be conducted
-Liquid = good medium
- Gas = Least conductive medium
- Intensity is proportional to amplitude and is measured in decibels
For this unit we were instructed to make instruments with our assigned groups. In my group it was Lauren Whyte, Ethan Rapp, and myself. We had to make three instruments, one being woodwind, another being a string instrument, and the other being chimes of sorts. This project was the definition of trial and error. We researched non stop in class trying to find ways to make these instruments, gather data, and figure out just how to make the instruments in general. At first we tried making a ukele for the string instrument, but we didn't have the right wire for the strings. We ended up making a basic rubber band guitar. For the wind instrument we attempted to make a clarinet, and that was the instrument we settled on. It did not work very well seeing as we had to make the entire thing by hand. Finally we attempted the chimes. My group was going to do a water xylophone, the kind where you fill pitchers of water with different amounts of water and tap the lid to make a sound. When this failed we made a real xylophone.
Here is the list of materials we used for each instrument:
1. Rubber Band Guitar
-8 rubber bands
- A plastic container
2. Clarinet
- Wood
- Metal Pipe
3. Xylophone
-Metal Pipe
- Wood
-Rubber Bands
Once we made these instruments we had to perform two songs, a song of our choice and a song we made.
Reflection
There were many, many things my group could have done better. For one we could have spent more time researching the instruments, making them easier to make. We also could have spent more time with precision instead of rushing to get it done. My group should have helped each other out more than letting each person make their own instrument.
I learned a lot during this unit. I learned about sound and how it travels and where it can travel. I learned what sound actually is. We had a guest speaker that really enlightened us on his work with sound. All in all this unit was super helpful and I'll be caring this knowledge with me for a long time!