Sound and Distance - Results Tables

In an intriguing exploration of acoustics, students investigate whether the sound produced by various noise-making objects travels different distances. A results table is set up to record the audibility of sounds from a whistle, crumpling paper, and a whisper at varying distances, measured in meters. The distances span from 5 meters up to 30 meters, incrementing by 5 meters with each step. Students listen for the sounds at each specified distance and note whether they can hear them. This experiment aims to determine if and how the type of sound source affects the distance over which its sound can be heard.

Another aspect of the study delves into how the distance from a sound source influences its volume. In this part of the experiment, a separate results table is prepared to document the loudness of a sound, measured in decibels (dB), at distances ranging from 0 to 10 meters, with 1-meter increments. By measuring the volume at these intervals, students can observe the relationship between distance and sound intensity, potentially discovering how sound diminishes as one moves away from the source. This experiment not only teaches students about sound properties but also introduces them to the concept of sound attenuation over distance.