What is Sound? | Physics for Kids | SciShow Kids

Sound and Waves

Sound and Vibrations -- Mystery Extras

Bonus Sound Resources

 

Sound and Waves Resources

You can read about sound and waves using the following resources:

1. DKFindout -- Sound
2. Physics for Kids -- Waves
3. Physics for Kids -- Wave Properties
4. Physics for Kids -- Sound
5. Gen Genius Wave Properties Reading

Sound Experiments for Kids

Sound Experiments for Kids 

Waves -- Light and Sound

Light and sound both travel in waves.  How are they similar?  How are they different?  What can you learn from these two videos?


Read about light and waves.

Physics of light and sound for kids.

Sound and Light Waves

Energy travels in waves.  Watch the video and run the simulator.  Can you explain what you learned about waves?



We have been learning about sound and waves.  Learn more at the following links:

1. The Longest Tin Can Phone Ever (video)
2. How do you get can phones to go around corners? (reading)
3. Secret Bells (Experiment)

Try out the wave simulator below:

Click to Run

Bonus Activities About Sound and Waves

What else can you learn about sound and waves?  Try out a few of these activities and take notes about what you learned.

Try out this online oscilloscope.  Use these questions to guide you.

1. Sounds that are a mix of pitches make messy waves. Can you find a sound that makes a simple wave? (Try whistling.)
2. What happens to the oscilloscope picture when you make a sound louder or softer?
3. What happens when you make a sound higher or lower?

What is the highest and lowest pitch that you can hear?

• The video starts with a tone so low you probably can't hear it. Keep listening.
• When you do you start hearing the hum? Notice when it gets so high you can't hear it anymore.
• While you're listening, watch the waves. They change with the pitch — from long wavelengths to short.

Video: Singing Roads

• The pitch of a sound — how high or low it is — depends on the vibration that made the sound. The quicker the vibration goes back and forth, the higher the sound.
• On this singing road, the vibrations of a car play a tune. Bumps in the road called rumble strips make the car vibrate.
• Which set of rumble strips plays the higher note?

Now Hear This! The sound designed to drive teenagers away.

• What can you learn by reading about this?

Nat Geo Kids:  The Science of Sound Playlist

• This is a list of 13 videos about sound.  Each one will play immediately after the last one.

How Quiet Can You Be?

Sound Part 2 (4th grade)

Physics - Waves - Introduction

What is Sound? video

Waves for Kids. video

Read about waves:

1. Physics for Kids: Waves
2. Wave (physics) Facts for Kids
3. Basics of Sound