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A guitar produces a lower pitch when you do not press any fingers against a string while plucking it because a longer string vibrates more slowly.

Sound

Sound is all around us. In KS2 Science, pupils discover how vibrations create sound waves and how these waves travel through solids, liquids, and gases.

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Fascinating Fact:

The loudest sound ever recorded was the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883, which was heard thousands of kilometres away.

In KS2 Science, pupils learn that sound is made by vibrations which travel through the air as waves. These waves can be absorbed, reflected, or amplified depending on the material they meet.

Key Terms

Vibration: A rapid back-and-forth movement that creates sound waves.
Pitch: How high or low a sound is, depending on the speed of vibration.
Amplitude: The size of the vibration, which affects how loud the sound is.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

How is sound made in KS2 Science?

Sound is made when objects vibrate. These vibrations create sound waves that travel through air, water, or solids to reach our ears.

Why do some sounds seem louder than others?

Sounds seem louder when they have a larger amplitude, meaning the vibrations are bigger. Quieter sounds have smaller vibrations.

Can sound travel through space?

No, sound cannot travel through space because there are no particles for the vibrations to move through. Sound needs a medium like air, water, or solids.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

Which musical instruments produce lower pitches?

Shorter or thinner instruments

Larger or thicker instruments

Brass instruments

Woodwind instruments

Large, thick, or loose strings also produce a lower pitch, as do longer instruments or strings

2 .

Which travels fastest, light or sound?

Light travels faster than sound

Light and sound travel at the same speed

Sound always travels faster than light

Sound sometimes travels faster than light

Light travels faster than sound - 874,000 times faster!

3 .

Which unit is sound frequency measured in?

Amps

Joules

Hertz

Heinz

1 Hertz = 1 vibration per second

4 .

Sound waves can be reflected, transmitted or what else?

Bounced

Deflected

Transcribed

Absorbed

Soft, flexible, fibrous materials can often absorb sound - these materials are good for soundproofing

5 .

When something vibrates quickly, it makes high frequency waves. You hear this as what kind of sound?

A high pitch

A low pitch

A medium pitch

A G sharp

High frequency vibrations make high pitched sounds and low frequency vibrations make low pitched sounds

6 .

Why does a guitar produce a lower pitch when you do not press any fingers against a string while plucking it?

A shorter string produces a lower pitch

A shorter string produces a louder sound

A longer string produces a higher pitch

A longer string produces a lower pitch

The shorter you make the string (by pressing your finger against it), the higher pitch you will hear when you pluck the string

7 .

Which unit is the intensity (loudness) of a sound measured in?

Decibels

Crucibles

Multiples

Degrees

Sounds above 85 decibels can damage your ears - concerts, loud MP3s and motorbikes all reach levels higher than this

8 .

What can sound travel through?

Air

Water

Walls

All of the above

Sound can travel through anything that can vibrate - this is described as the 'transmission' of sound

9 .

Sound waves can be reflected off solid objects. When this happens, what do we hear?

Music

An echo

Thunder

No sound

Have you ever heard your voice echo? Large, empty rooms, such as in a cathedral, are great places for echoes

10 .

When a sound wave hits your ear, it makes the air in your ear vibrate. These vibrations cause what part of your body to vibrate?

Your auditory nerve

Your ear drum

Your aorta

Your retina

The ear drum makes three tiny bones move and these pass the vibrations on to the cochlea. The cochlea sends signals to the brain which we hear as sound

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Sound

Author: Sheri Smith (PhD English Literature, English Teacher & Quiz Writer)