Science Smarts: Time for a little music

By Patty Rooks on February 17, 2024.

I have had quite a number of people asking for science experiments that involve music. This is one of the first I can recall doing many years ago now. As you know, I am always looking for experiments that involve simple, easy materials. This one could not be easier! Although it is quite simple in organizing, it is still a ton of fun and will keep those little hands busy as the February break starts. Let’s get started.

*Remember to ask an adult before doing this experiment.

Materials

– Five 500 mL EMPTY plastic bottles

– Water

– Disinfectant wipes

Procedure

1. In order to keep down the spreading of germs, use a wipe to clean off the tops of the plastic bottles before you use them.

2. Fill five identical plastic bottles with varying amounts of water.

3. Arrange the bottles in order from most to least full.

4. Blow across the top of each bottle and compare the different sounds you make.

5. Hmm, what is going on?

6. Adjust the amount of water so that you can hear clear differences in the sounds made.

7. With the help of the rest of your family, try to play a tune (example “Three Blind Mice”. This may take some practice and time.

8. Empty and clean the top of the bottles using the disinfectant and wipes.

What is going on?

Did you know that by changing the amounts of air and water in the bottles allows for a change in the pitch(how high or low the sound is). When you blow across the tops of the bottles, you are making the air inside vibrate. In bottles with more air, the vibrations are slower, so the pitch is lower. Do you think that the size of the bottle will affect the pitch as well? Investigate further. There are so many questions you can answer through such a simple experiment.

Patty Rooks, senior scientific consultant PRAXIS, “Connecting Science To The Community.” Contact Praxis at praxis@praxismh.ca, http://www.praxismh.ca, Tweet or follow us @PraxisMedHat, or friend us on Facebook. Address: 12 826 11th Street SE, Medicine Hat, AB, T1A 1T7 Phone: 403-527-5365, email: praxis@praxismh.ca.

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