Sound Wave
Light, Sound and Waves

Describing sounds

Physics Narrative for 11-14 Supporting Physics Teaching

A recap

Sound consists of audible vibrations, which travel from a source to a detector.

These vibrations travel out from the source at a speed that depends on the medium, which must contain particles. The medium must therefore be a solid, liquid or gas. Sounds do not travel through a vacuum.

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Thinking About Teaching Collection

Describing sound - Physics narrative

A Physics Narrative presents a storyline, showing a coherent path through a topic...

For 11-14 7 Resources

Other resources onSound Wave
Sound Wave
Light, Sound and Waves Supporting Physics Teaching

Noticing sounds

Listening to interesting sounds and beginning to describe them.

Classroom Activity 5-11

Sound Wave
Light, Sound and Waves Supporting Physics Teaching

There's more to sounds...

Frequency and amplitude provide a very good start to describing sounds, but most sounds that we hear in daily life consist of...

Physics Narrative 11-14

Sound Wave
Light, Sound and Waves Supporting Physics Teaching

Sound shadows

Here you can show how a simple model of the paths that sound can follow allows us to predict where things will and will not be...

Classroom Activity 11-14

Misconceptions
RESEARCH REVIEW Light, Sound and Waves

Many students, even some that understand that sound is the result of vibrations, struggle to explain the effect of covering an object which is making sound

  • Number of Resources2
  • Number of References2
  • Number of Diagnostic Resources2
RESEARCH REVIEW Light, Sound and Waves

Most students struggle to represent sound accurately

  • Number of Resources2
  • Number of References2
  • Number of Diagnostic Resources0
RESEARCH REVIEW Light, Sound and Waves

Students are familiar with the idea that different materials make different sounds, therefore when asked to explain why an object is making a sound some students will answer by stating a material property

  • Number of Resources2
  • Number of References2
  • Number of Diagnostic Resources6
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