Add a little music to your next physics class. Pupils discuss how frequency determines pitch and take part in several activities designed to teach them more about sound, melody, resonance, and vibrations. They use materials to construct objects that produce varying sounds and discern between low or high pitches depending on the vibrations each produces. 

Concepts

amplitude, frequency, sound, resonance

Show More Show Less

Additional Tags

science

Show More Show Less

Instructional Ideas

• Play songs from CDs to determine the pitch and frequencies of melodies and singular notes within the music
• Have the class construct a musical instrument after researching several options

Classroom Considerations

• Make sure the class does not hit one another with rubber bands or use tuning forks as weapons to avoid possible injury

Pros

• Multiple stations provide opportunities to demonstrate concepts and ensure all students learn key points
• Provides a way to expand or modify, if needed, for differentiated learning 

Cons

• None