Activity
What Does It Matter?
In order to produce sound you need something to vibrate. Matter is that something. It's the “stuff” that the universe is made of. But will all matter transmit sound? Are there only certain particles that can pass these sound waves along? Let's find out.
What You Need:
- 3 plastic sealable bags
- Sand (sugar or flour can be substituted)
- Water
- Coin
What You Do:
- Fill the first bag halfway with sand. Push out the extra air and seal the bag shut.
- Fill a second bag halfway with water. Again, push out the extra air and seal the bag shut. Make sure that it doesn't leak.
- Fill a third bag halfway with air. Seal it and place all three bags on the tabletop.
- Place your ear on the bag of sand. Gently tap a coin on the tabletop. What do you hear?
- Repeat the coin tapping while listening through the bag of water. Does it sound the same? How has the tapping sound changed?
- Repeat the tapping one more time while listening through the bag filled with air. Compare the three sounds.
What Happened?
Sounds are transferred by particles that slam into neighboring particles. Solids contain particles with the closest neighbors. Next comes liquids. Gases have the most spread-out particles. The closer the particles are to each other, the better the sound transmission. That's why the sound that passed through the solid and liquid may have seemed much louder than the sound that passed through the air-filled bag.
Related learning resources
Glossary: What Does It Say?
Worksheet
Glossary: What Does It Say?
Use this glossary with the EL Support Lesson: What Does It Say?
preschool
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
What Does It Feel Like?
Worksheet
What Does It Feel Like?
What does it feel like? Practice using adjectives to describe everyday items!
1st grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
What Does It Look Like?
Worksheet
What Does It Look Like?
What does it look like? Explore describing words with this practice page, all about adjectives!
1st grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
Vocabulary Cards: What Does It Say?
Worksheet
Vocabulary Cards: What Does It Say?
Use these vocabulary cards with the EL Support Lesson: What Does It Say?
preschool
Worksheet
Glossary: What Does the Graph Show?
Worksheet
Glossary: What Does the Graph Show?
Glossary: What Does the Graph Show?
3rd grade
Math
Worksheet
What's the Matter? #2
Worksheet
What's the Matter? #2
Kids practice classifying items as liquids or solids for a lesson on the states of matter in this 4th grade physical science worksheet.
4th grade
Science
Worksheet
What's the Matter? #1
Worksheet
What's the Matter? #1
Kids flex their physical science knowledge by classifying items as solids or liquids in this 4th grade states of matter worksheet.
4th grade
Science
Worksheet
Matter Mixup: What's a Solid?
Worksheet
Matter Mixup: What's a Solid?
Kids practice identifying solids for a lesson on the states of matter in this 1st grade physical science worksheet.
2nd grade
Science
Worksheet
Matter Mixup: What's a Liquid?
Worksheet
Matter Mixup: What's a Liquid?
Kids practice identifying liquids for a lesson on the states of matter in this 1st grade physical science worksheet.
2nd grade
Science
Worksheet
What Does the Pancreas Do?
Worksheet
What Does the Pancreas Do?
What does the pancreas do? Kids will check out the diagram, read a paragraph, and put their reading comprehension skills to the test by filling in the blanks.
5th grade
Science
Worksheet
What is it and How Does it Work?
Science project
What is it and How Does it Work?
Get a fun high school physics science fair project idea one of the states of matter called plasma and the applications of this unique coil.
High school
Science project
What Does an Activist Do?
Lesson plan
What Does an Activist Do?
Ask an important question this month: What does an activist do? This engaging lesson can be used leading up to Martin Luther King Jr. Day (and year-round).
1st grade
Reading & Writing
Lesson plan