Sound Vibrations in Solids
Learning Objective
I can used evidence from data to argue whether all solid things vibrate when they make sounds, even if I can't see the vibrations.
Key Concepts
In the experiment, sand is sprinkled on a metal plate to visualize the vibration patterns when sound is produced.
The patterns revealed by the sand occur at a natural frequency of the metal plate, which contributes to the overall sound.
Each vibrating object has its own combination of natural frequencies, determined by its physical characteristics, forming a unique acoustic signature.
Practice Questions
This lesson includes 12 practice questions to reinforce learning.
View questions preview
1. What does the sand reveal about the vibrating plate?
2. What is a natural frequency in the context of the metal plate?
3. How does the experiment demonstrate that the metal plate can produce a complex sound?
...and 9 more questions
Educational Video
Seeing Sound With Sand | Soundwaves: The Symphony Of Physics | BBC Earth Science
BBC Earth Science