Musical fun - Investigation instructions

Embark on an exploration of sound with an engaging activity designed to delve into the world of music and acoustics. Begin by gathering a diverse collection of musical instruments and pair up with a partner for a collaborative investigation. Together, examine the instruments, paying special attention to the characteristics of pitch and volume, which refers to how high or low and how loud the sounds produced are. Before testing the instruments, take a moment to hypothesise which instrument you believe will produce the highest pitch and the loudest sound. Document your predictions by creating a table, which will later be used to compare against your findings and confirm the accuracy of your initial guesses.

During this musical adventure, you'll also uncover the fundamentals of sound production and transmission. Questions such as "How is sound created?" and "How does it travel?" will be addressed, providing a deeper understanding of the physical properties of sound. Additionally, the terms 'pitch' and 'vibration' will be explored in relation to sound. Pitch is determined by the frequency of the sound waves, while vibration is the rapid back and forth motion that generates these sound waves. By investigating these concepts, you'll gain insight into the intricate relationship between the physical movements of the instruments and the sounds we hear.