National Science Foundation
Science of the Winter Olympic Games: Alpine Skiing and Vibration Damping
Alpine skiers have engineers looking out for their safety and for their performance. Physics and materials engineers consider how to dampen the vibrations that can be caused by bumps in the snow, vibrations that can cause the athletes to...
Scholastic
Study Jams! Sound
Listen in as Mia and Sam expound on sound. It is caused by vibrations and travels in waves. It has the qualities of pitch, frequency, and volume. This hip animation displays a graph to depict the frequency and amplitude of sound waves....
Steve Spangler Science
Water Whistle - Sick Science! #052
Intrigue your learners with this film. They can create a water whistle using a straw and a glass of water. This could be used as an introduction to a unit on sound waves and vibrations.
Curated OER
Singing Pipes - Hardware Store Music
Here is an interesting demonstration which shows how heat can create sound in a metal pipe! The principle of heat rising is the key to making this particular demonstration a success. A piece of metal mesh is lodged inside each of the...
Curated OER
Cornstarch Monsters
Using sound waves, Steve Spangler demonstrates the properties of a non-Newtonian fluid. When the fluid is placed on an amplifier, it changes into the most amazing shapes. Your class will love demonstrating this process in class.
Steve Spangler Science
Screaming Balloon - Sick Science! #161
Spangler uses balloons and hex nuts to demonstrate centripetal force and how to make a balloon "scream." He places a nut inside a balloon before blowing it up. Then, once the balloon is tied, he begins to spin the balloon around. A force...
Curated OER
Water Whistle
Intrigue your learners with this film. They can create a water whistle using a straw and a glass of water. This could be used as an introduction to a unit on sound waves and vibrations.
Steve Spangler Science
Pop Bottle Sounds - Cool Science Fair Project
Set up a set of colorful liquid-filled bottles that produce sounds when tapped with a spoon. When teaching primary physicists about sound, they can experiment with pitch, comparing it the amount of liquid in the bottle. Which makes a...
Curated OER
Singing Pipes - Hardware Store Music
Here is an interesting demonstration which shows how heat can create sound in a metal pipe! The principle of heat rising is the key to making this particular demonstration a success. A piece of metal mesh is lodged inside each of the...
Steve Spangler Science
Singing Glasses Toothpick Mover - Sick Science #061
Challenge your learners with a film on sound and vibration. Two wine glasses are filled with water and are then used to make sounds. When water is added to the glass, or removed from the glass, the pitch of the sound changes. Then, a...
Steve Spangler Science
Cornstarch Monsters - Cool Science Experiment
Using sound waves, Steve Spangler demonstrates the properties of a non-Newtonian fluid. When the fluid is placed on an amplifier, it changes into the most amazing shapes. Your class will love demonstrating this process in class.
Steve Spangler Science
Buzzing Noise Maker - Sick Science! #044
Have your learners create noise makers using this video clip. Instructions are given for making a noisy toy with a craft stick, string, a rubber band, and double-sided sticky foam tape. This activity can kick off a discussion of sound...