Vocal Visualiser: Sound visualiser gadget

Description of the Experiment

Demonstration of sound as a pressure wave using a sound visualiser gadget.

Introduction:
The vocal cords produce sound when they come together and then vibrate as air passes through them during exhalation
of air from the lungs. This vibration produces the sound wave. Sound waves are pressure wave that can create
vibrations in an object.

In this experiment, we will use sound visualiser gadget visualize and feel sound waves produced by our vocal cords.

Hello

Activity:

1. Hold the sound visualiser gadget horizontally and switch on the laser ponter attached to it.
2. Put the opening of the rubber diaphragm attached drum close to your mouth in such a way that the laser beam after
getting reflected from the mirror(attached to the diaphragm) falls on the wall opposite to you.
3. Say something loudly into the drum and observe the reflected beam falling on the wall.
4. Repeat the same by changing the pitch and loudness of your voice.

Observation:
Observe that
1. The reflected laser beam falling on the wall forms a pattern.
2. Compare the patterns formed on the wall when you change the pitch and loudness of your voice.

Questions:
Observation based:
1. Are the patterns same when you change the pitch and loudness of your voice while speaking the same phrase?
2. Are the patterns vary when you speak different phrases with same pitch and loudness?

Think and Answer:

Why do you think patterns are created you speak into the drum? Also explain the variation produced in the pattern due to change in
the pitch, loudness and phrases when you speak.

Homework: Explore:

Answer the following questions.

1. How many different vibrations are needed to hear a sound?
2. All objects have the potential to vibrate. Can we hear all of
them?
3.If a tree falls in a forest and there is nobody around to
hear it, does it still make a sound?
4. When sound waves move through the air, each air molecule
vibrates back and forth, hitting the air molecule next to it,
which then also vibrates back and forth. In this case, do you
think he individual air molecules "travel" with the sound?
1. When do you hear a high note?
2. When do you hear a low note?
3. Ask your friend to wave his hand. The scientific
name for this motion is vibration. All sounds begin
with vibration. Can you hear the vibrations of his
hands? If not why?
4. What does determine pitch of a sound?
5. What does determine loudness of a sound?