This week, Year 4 scientists have been busy investigating how sounds are made as part of our learning about sound. We explored an exciting question: What role do vibrations play in how loud a sound is?

Our investigation:

To help us see sound vibrations in action, we carried out a simple but effective experiment using a drum and some rice.

First, we sprinkled a small amount of rice onto the surface of the drum. We then lightly hit the drum, listened carefully to the sound it made, and watched closely to see what happened to the rice.

Next, we hit the drum a little harder. Again, we listened to the volume of the sound and observed how the rice moved.

What we observed:

The results were very clear!

• When the drum was hit gently, the rice moved only a little, and the sound was quiet.
• When the drum was hit harder, the rice jumped much more, and the sound was louder.

This showed us that smaller vibrations produce quieter sounds, while bigger vibrations produce louder sounds.

What did we learn?

Through this investigation, we learned that sound is made by vibrations. The stronger the vibration, the louder the sound we hear. Watching the rice move helped us to see these vibrations, not just hear them. Year 4 showed excellent scientific skills by making careful observations, listening closely, and explaining what they discovered. Well done, young scientists!