Sound Explanation

This term we are learning about sound. Now what is sound, how is it created, where does it come from? Well... sound is all around us and we hear noises and sounds on a daily basis. It is a form of energy and vibrations. In space I think that there is no sound because there's gravity. I think this because if there's gravity than how are the sound waves suppose to travel.

Sound initially starts from a material or any other object that vibrates. When the material vibrates, sound waves are created. Unfortunately we cannot see sound waves but they are there. Why? Maybe because they move too fast. Sound travels through water at approximately 1,430 metres per second, which is about five-times faster than it travels through air. As they travel through the air, it hits your eardrums. The brain translates it into a sound that we recognise or know. Instead of us hearing vibrations we hear sounds, because our brain already translated that vibration into a noise that is recognisable for us. There’s a low and high pitched sound. If the sound waves are far apart then its a low pitch, but if the sound waves are close together its a high pitched sound.

How is sound created? Well.. Sound can be created in a variety of different ways. Such as when you talk, sing, when you hit something or when you make any noise you create sound. Even when a material vibrates they send vibration that travels through the air by sound waves. Sound waves start off in one spot then go out in every direction. We hear all kinds of sounds everyday, but don’t take notice of them. Especially sounds we hear on a daily base.

What does our brain do and how is it involved in this process? Our brain has a very important job which is translating vibrations into a sound. With class 3’s cup experiment it went great. Finding how this worked was really interesting. As you talk into the cup your vocals vibrate and sends that vibration through the string. As soon as its travelled to the other person you're communicating with, it goes in their eardrums and the brain does it’s job. Which is transferring it into a sound. The human brain is magnificent. Making the “Talking Cup Experiment” was really easy. The equipment needed for this is plastic cups, a pin, string and a ice block stick. First of all you need to make a hole with a pin in both cups so that the thin string can fit through. Thread the string through the hole and attach it to a ice block stick inside the cup. You need to tie the string around the ice block stick so that it won't be able to come out. After that you’re ready to have a go for yourself and see if this cup experiment does actually work.

If we had to live in absolute silence it would be totally boring. How would you hear music, or even the relaxing sound of the birds chirping away as you awake. You won’t be able to hear your Mum telling you off, but that would be marvellous. Why live in silence when you can live with hearing sounds. I couldn't imagine living without sound.