Activity
The Influence of Latitude on Music
Grade Level: 6th to 8th; Type: Social Science
Objective:
This project compares music from several different countries to determine if there is a correlation between tempo and latitude.
Research Questions:
- Is there a weak correlation between tempo and latitude?
- Is there a strong correlation between tempo and latitude?
- Are there other factors like history or culture that could weigh in?
Materials:
- Internet access
- Pen or pencil
- Lab notebook
Experimental Procedure:
- Listen to 20 different national anthems from countries around the world. Click on this link to find a database of national anthems: http://www.nationalanthems.info/.
- Find the tempo, also known as the beats per minute (bpm), of each song. Do this by clapping out a beat for ten seconds and multiplying that number by six, or use the free music software listed in the references. Record each anthem's bpm in your notebook.
- Use the internet to research the latitude of each country.
- Graph each country's anthem's tempo and latitude on a scatter plot.
- Analyze your data. Was there a weak correlation? Was there a strong correlation? Were there any surprises?
- Could any other factors have affected the results?
Terms/Concepts: tempo, beats per minute (bpm), latitude, scatter plot, correlation
References:
- AnalogX Tap Tempo http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/audio/taptempo.htm.
- Cha-cha-cha by Latitude http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/Music_p020.shtml.
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Warning is hereby given that not all Project Ideas are appropriate for all individuals or in all circumstances. Implementation of any Science Project Idea should be undertaken only in appropriate settings and with appropriate parental or other supervision. Reading and following the safety precautions of all materials used in a project is the sole responsibility of each individual. For further information, consult your state's handbook of Science Safety.
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