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MOSTLY MUSICAL SOUND WAVE LAB (Glencoe)

Last updated almost 8 years ago
13 questions
Note from the author:
Making use of Glencoe's "How is an Oscilloscope used to tune a musical instrument?", this formative introduces the relationship between wavelength, frequency and pitch.
All sound waves are produced by vibrations & carry energy through a medium. Their wavelength & frequency affect what we hear. In this activity, you will be comparing the properties of a sound wave created by an online trombone as measured by an oscilloscope.

Go to this site, http://www.glencoe.com/sites/common_assets/science/virtual_labs/PS18/PS18.html

I highly recommend that you open the virtual lab in a new window, while keeping this Formative open. Doing this will allow you to manipulate the interactive while keeping track of your work. This is what your screen should look like.

Also, make sure you are wearing headphones.
1

Read the background information on the left. Define pitch.

1

How is pitch related to frequency?

1

Click VIDEO in the TOP RIGHT CORNER and watch how an oscilloscope works. What do you notice about the line shown the oscilloscope as a musical note is played? (a line appears is not enough, tell me about how it changes!)

1

Move the position of the trombone handle to each numbered position and CLICK PLAY. Record the wavelength of the sound at each position in the table below. Use this information to CALCULATE the wave frequency.
Frequency = Wavelength x Velocity of sound on air

Use the line tool to draw what you see (or take a screenshot of the oscilloscope) , use the text tool to add text and numbers!

1

Which of the handle positions made the instrument the LONGEST?

1

Which of the above handle positions made the instrument the SHORTEST?

1

Complete the following statement: (higher or lower)
•The LONGER the instrument, the _____________________ the PITCH.

1

Complete the following statement: (higher or lower)
•The SHORTER the instrument, the ______________________ the PITCH.

1

What happened to the WAVELENGTH of the wave as the instrument got smaller?

1

What happened to the FREQUENCY of the wave as the instrument got bigger?

1

What happened to the PITCH of the sound as the FREQUENCY DECREASED?

1

Complete the following statement:
•The LOWER the FREQUENCY, the _____________________ the PITCH.

1

Complete the following statement:
•The HIGHER the FREQUENCY, the ______________________ the PITCH