Sound Quest

Introduction   Task   Sources   Process   Evaluation   Conclusion

By: Kaleena Dooley

Introduction:

    You have just finished the book, Secrets of Sound, by April Pulley Sayre.  In this book, you read about different animals and the sounds they make.  You got a taste of how sound is measured.  There is a lot of math located in this book.  You will complete two different tasks.  The first is a game that can be found on the internet.  This game deals with converting measurements of different animals, many of which can be found in the book.  The second is a group project that deals with measuring the speed of sound.

Task:

The students will develop a better understanding for sound waves and measurement.

NCTM Principles and Standards for School Mathematics, Standard 4, Measurement, grades 6-8: Instructional Programs should enable all students to understand measurable attributes of objects and the units, systems, and processes of measurement-
        understand both metric and customary systems of measurement;
        understand relationships among units and convert from one unit to another within the same system;

NCTM Principles and Standards for School Mathematics, Standard 4, Measurement, grades 6-8: Instructional programs should enable all students to apply appropriate techniques, tools, and formulas to determine measurements-
        ues common benchmarks to select appropriate methods for estimating measurements;
        select and apply techniques and tools to accurately find length, aarea, volume, and angle measures to appropriate levels of precision;

Sources:

BBC Education. (n.d.). Animal weigh in. Retrieved November 8, 2004, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/mathsfile/shockwave/games/animal.html

Think Quest. (1998). The soundry. Retrieved November 8, 2004, from http://library.thinkquest.org/19537/?tqskip1=1

Michigan.gov. (n.d.). Lesson 6-measuring sound waves and echoes. Retrieved November 8, 2004, from http://www.michigan.gov/scope/0,1607,7-155 13497_13498_13501-75274--,00.html

School for Champions. (1999). Sound waves-test. Retrieved November 8, 2004, from http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/tests/testsound.htm

Umanitoba. (n.d.). Sound waves. Retrieved November 10, 2004, from http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/linguistics/russell/138/sec4/acoust1.htm

Multimedia Physics Studios. (n.d.). Sound waves and the eardrum. Retrieved November 10, 2004, from http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/mmedia/waves/edl.html

School for Champions. (2002). Sound waves. Retrieved November 8, 2004, from http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/sound.htm

Process:

1) Playing with Measurements!  Click on the title to be taken to the site to begin the game.  Play each level as many times as you can in the 20 minutes allotted.  You must print out a copy of your score before moving onto the next level.  These will be turned in at the end of the sound quest.

2) Sound Waves Research.  It is always helpful to know a little background information on sound waves to be able to complete your task at the best of your ability.  Click on the title to read about some information on sound waves.  Explore the site to find all the information you can.  Between this information and the information in the book, you should be able to take a quiz.  You will need to print it out and answer questions 1-6, 8, 9, and 14 only.  This will also be turned in.

3) Group Work!! Next, you will get into groups of four (I will let you form your own groups).  You will be conducting an echo test.  We have all heard an echo in an empty room, in the auditorium, or in a canyon.  You will test from 50 meters, 100 meters, and 150 meters.  One person needs to be responsible for creating the echo, recording the data, running the stop watch, and listening for the echo. Make sure your recorder gets all the information so your data will be correct.  After you have finished your experiment, organize your data in a neat and logical order.

4) Echo Application!!!  Now that you have experimented with the echo, how do you think an echo could be used in the real world?  Well, I'll tell you.  If you know how fast sound travels through certain types of matter, then you can find out if there is something on the other side or under something.  I'm talking about water, or, more importantly, the ocean.  If we know how fast sound travels in water, then we can determine how far down the ocean floor is, where mountains and valleys are located.  We could even find buried treasure.  I want you to take all your knowledge from the previous tasks and calculate the depth of water when you are given the time in seconds.  Click chart to proceed.  Each person should complete a chart.

Chart:

Do you remember how fast sound travels in water?  If you don't, go back to your research to find out!!

To find the depth, multiply time by speed and divide by two.  Fill in the chart below.  Use your calculator, if necessary!!

Evaluation:

Answer Key:

Quiz:

1. Possible answers: Humans, Animals, Planes, Boats, Nature, Thunder, etc.

2. Possible answers: Ears, geophone, tape recorders, Spectograms, etc.

3. a

4. b

5. b

6.c

7.Omit

8.b

9.b

10-13.Omit

14. b.

15.Omit

Table

Chart

Do you remember how fast sound travels in water?  If you don't go back to your research to find out!!

To find the depth, multiply time by speed and divide by two.  Fill in the chart below.  Use your calculator, if necessary!!

Rubric:

This is the rubric by which your packet will be graded.  Complete the rubric for yourself, then switch with someone in your group and complete theirs.  I will take your points and the partner's points into consideration when completing the grading.  Please be honest because I will see your work.  After your rubric has been completed, staple it to the top of all your work.  After everyone in your group has completed their rubric, place the group data sheet on top of the packets, paper clip them together, and turn them in.

Conclusion:

    Now that you have been able to research sound, do some experimenting on your own, and do some valuable work with measurement. You should be able to go out on your own and find other ways we use the measurement of sound in the real world.  Here are some additional links to get you started:

Sound Waves: http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/sound.htm

Sound Waves and the Eardrum: http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/mmedia/waves/edl.html

Sound Waves: http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/linguistics/russell/138/sec4/acoust1.htm