Building A Musical Band
April Sixteenth, Two Thousand Fourteen
The overall objective of this project was to learn the way sound waves travel. This knowledge was applied by creating and revising several unique types of original instruments. Our goal was to produce a string, wind, and chime instrument that was capable of playing a concert C major scale. As the unit progresses, we realized each instrument had a diverse method of producing all seven notes. The main ways of creating a different pitch was by changing the wavelength or tension. Although being musically inclined is beneficial in terms of tuning by ear, while creating the instruments, there is no specific advantage. This project focuses on the wavelengths and frequencies in order to manipulate the pitch of each instrument.
*View the justification document for a more in depth explanation based on laws of physics.
Song Lyrics
Nothing, he just waves. How did you know this? Scroll to the bottom of the justification piece to read the song lyrics; hopefully I can upload a voice recording of the music. The song lyrics consist of several different explanations of physics topics, ranging from gravity to thermodynamics to the typical life of a high school student. Our song is a parody of Enya's song, Only Time, and it briefly expounds a select number of topics studied throughout this year. Performing at an end of the year concert and social gathering, our handmade instruments will accompany a recording of the revised lyrics and a backing track of the chorus of Only Time.
Nothing, he just waves. How did you know this? Scroll to the bottom of the justification piece to read the song lyrics; hopefully I can upload a voice recording of the music. The song lyrics consist of several different explanations of physics topics, ranging from gravity to thermodynamics to the typical life of a high school student. Our song is a parody of Enya's song, Only Time, and it briefly expounds a select number of topics studied throughout this year. Performing at an end of the year concert and social gathering, our handmade instruments will accompany a recording of the revised lyrics and a backing track of the chorus of Only Time.
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I found several videos on YouTube.
To the left: Wong Fu Productions wrote their own rap about physics, much like our song for this project. To the right: Hank Greene, from the VlogBrothers, composed a physics song concerning particles called quarks. |
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Slinky Experiment
A slinky can provide a visual representation of several unique types of waves. Longitudinal waves can be illustrated by pulling a section of slinky directly backwards while it rests on the ground. The isolated section will form ripples of sections that looks more compact or greater intervals in between the links. Transverse waves are shown by wiggling the slinky back and forth along the ground. We were able to experiment with the variables if there was an interfering wave traveling in the opposite direction. It seemed like the waves reached a midpoint then proceeded to rebound back in the original direction; however, the waves merely continued along the initial path. Slinkys could create rarefaction while interacting, if the two waves were pushed to coordinating sides.
Standing waves were portrayed when the people grasping the slinky stood approximately ten meters apart and had enough tension so the slinky was relatively straight. One person would raise their arm at a distinct pace until the slinky created one node. By timing, we were able to discover the frequency of half a wavelength. It is only half a wavelength because a wave has to travel from crest to crest or trough to trough(actually any two points equally set apart on a wave, but these two features are the simplest to measure). After recording the data, the pace of the arm increased and the slinky showed two nodes. This is equivalent to one wavelength and we noticed that the frequency increased. To ensure our observations were accurate, our group timed the frequency for a standing wave with three nodes. As predicted, the frequency increased because the wavelength was shorter. Our prediction was logical due to the fact the person moving their arm would need to increase the rate of speed in order to form an extra node as the experiment progressed. That means their hand was reaching the mid point quicker than the previous trial, and this is known as the frequency(the speed a wave travels).
A slinky can provide a visual representation of several unique types of waves. Longitudinal waves can be illustrated by pulling a section of slinky directly backwards while it rests on the ground. The isolated section will form ripples of sections that looks more compact or greater intervals in between the links. Transverse waves are shown by wiggling the slinky back and forth along the ground. We were able to experiment with the variables if there was an interfering wave traveling in the opposite direction. It seemed like the waves reached a midpoint then proceeded to rebound back in the original direction; however, the waves merely continued along the initial path. Slinkys could create rarefaction while interacting, if the two waves were pushed to coordinating sides.
Standing waves were portrayed when the people grasping the slinky stood approximately ten meters apart and had enough tension so the slinky was relatively straight. One person would raise their arm at a distinct pace until the slinky created one node. By timing, we were able to discover the frequency of half a wavelength. It is only half a wavelength because a wave has to travel from crest to crest or trough to trough(actually any two points equally set apart on a wave, but these two features are the simplest to measure). After recording the data, the pace of the arm increased and the slinky showed two nodes. This is equivalent to one wavelength and we noticed that the frequency increased. To ensure our observations were accurate, our group timed the frequency for a standing wave with three nodes. As predicted, the frequency increased because the wavelength was shorter. Our prediction was logical due to the fact the person moving their arm would need to increase the rate of speed in order to form an extra node as the experiment progressed. That means their hand was reaching the mid point quicker than the previous trial, and this is known as the frequency(the speed a wave travels).
Various Waves
There are several types of waves that travel specifically depending on the kind of wave it is. This unit, I studied transverse waves, longitudinal waves, and standing waves. Transverse waves(picture one) are the waves people typically think of; the ocean consists of this type of wave or if a person wiggles a string from side to side. Longitudinal waves(picture two) consist of a disturbance that travels through a medium such as air; one example is sound waves. These waves have compression and rarefaction depending on when the wave passes through |
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the particles. Standing waves(pictures 3-5) are waves that constantly stay in a fixed position if no factors vary. It contains nodes, point of least amplitude, and anti-nodes, the greatest points of amplitude. A demonstration of a standing waves is if two people hold a jump rope in the air and move the ends to create peaks and valleys. I asked the ocean if he was shore he didn't speak. Is the ocean happy?
Parts of a Wave
Each wave has certain parts and sections that makes it easier to record data and make predictions. Waves are repeating patterns of energy traveling in the same path as long as each element remains constant. The wave itself doesn't actually move; a wave is just moving energy causing a disturbance in a medium such as air or water. Waves have the ability move in all directions. A common misconception is the fact that waves move only in one path from their starting point; this is probably due to two-dimensional pictures or observation of the ocean. In fact, waves travel like ripples in a pond when you drop a rock into the water. Waves move away in all directions, including up and down, away from the starting point.
One major formula involving waves is velocity equals wavelength times the frequency. This means the wavelength and frequency of a wave directly correlate; so if the velocity remains constant, one factor needs to increase or decrease to compensate for any change in the opposing variable. For example, if the wavelength increased, the frequency would decrease, and vice versa.
In longitudinal waves, rare fraction and compression occur. The rare fraction is the sections of the waves that increase the amount of space in a wavelength. The compression is the section where the wave is closer together. See the second picture above for a visual example. No, he is very crestfallen. Sound travels in longitudinal waves and the amount of rare fraction or compression changes the pitch of the noise.
Standing waves have nodes and anti-nodes. Nodes are the point the wave appears to be standing still; it can also be considered a point of no displacement. The point the greatest distance from the midpoint is considered the anti-node. This point moves the most and is the highest or lowest peak. The nodes stay in one place and just shift up and down; this is why the waves are named standing waves.
A transverse wave consists of several different parts, including midpoint, crest, trough, wavelength, frequency, amplitude, and velocity. The midpoint is the imaginary line of rest or equilibrium; for example, if waves in an ocean stopped moving, the surface would be the midpoint. The crest is the point where it is the greatest from the midpoint; it is the highest point of a wave. The trough is the opposite and it is the greatest distance from the midpoint in a negative direction. The wavelength is the distance from two matching points of a wave. Typically people measure the crest to crest because it is the most discernible. The frequency is the number of times a point on a wave passes a fixed position. One case is when waves move past a post of a peer and the crest hits the post every two seconds; this means the frequency is 0.5 per second because half a wave passes every second. The amplitude is the maximum displacement in a wave and refers to the distance from the midpoint to the crest.
Each wave has certain parts and sections that makes it easier to record data and make predictions. Waves are repeating patterns of energy traveling in the same path as long as each element remains constant. The wave itself doesn't actually move; a wave is just moving energy causing a disturbance in a medium such as air or water. Waves have the ability move in all directions. A common misconception is the fact that waves move only in one path from their starting point; this is probably due to two-dimensional pictures or observation of the ocean. In fact, waves travel like ripples in a pond when you drop a rock into the water. Waves move away in all directions, including up and down, away from the starting point.
One major formula involving waves is velocity equals wavelength times the frequency. This means the wavelength and frequency of a wave directly correlate; so if the velocity remains constant, one factor needs to increase or decrease to compensate for any change in the opposing variable. For example, if the wavelength increased, the frequency would decrease, and vice versa.
In longitudinal waves, rare fraction and compression occur. The rare fraction is the sections of the waves that increase the amount of space in a wavelength. The compression is the section where the wave is closer together. See the second picture above for a visual example. No, he is very crestfallen. Sound travels in longitudinal waves and the amount of rare fraction or compression changes the pitch of the noise.
Standing waves have nodes and anti-nodes. Nodes are the point the wave appears to be standing still; it can also be considered a point of no displacement. The point the greatest distance from the midpoint is considered the anti-node. This point moves the most and is the highest or lowest peak. The nodes stay in one place and just shift up and down; this is why the waves are named standing waves.
A transverse wave consists of several different parts, including midpoint, crest, trough, wavelength, frequency, amplitude, and velocity. The midpoint is the imaginary line of rest or equilibrium; for example, if waves in an ocean stopped moving, the surface would be the midpoint. The crest is the point where it is the greatest from the midpoint; it is the highest point of a wave. The trough is the opposite and it is the greatest distance from the midpoint in a negative direction. The wavelength is the distance from two matching points of a wave. Typically people measure the crest to crest because it is the most discernible. The frequency is the number of times a point on a wave passes a fixed position. One case is when waves move past a post of a peer and the crest hits the post every two seconds; this means the frequency is 0.5 per second because half a wave passes every second. The amplitude is the maximum displacement in a wave and refers to the distance from the midpoint to the crest.
Reflection
Throughout this project, there were many positive aspects of my group dynamic and the outcome. My group worked very well together and each person was capable of compromising and suggesting new ideas to benefit the project. I believe that everyone in my group maintained a positive attitude and that contributed to the overall morale. There were no arguments or conflicting opinions that caused issues; instead there was bonding over laughter and jokes.(I think I lost an electron. Are you positive? Yes. Then you better keep an ion it.) I really enjoyed participating with my group members and I had a lot of fun in Physics class recently.
Another exceptional point in this project was the productivity. Even though my group joked around, we could focus while it was necessary. We were able to prioritize and put a lot of effort into what was important. Aesthetics are a nice feature, but the learning took place when we tried to actually manipulate the wavelengths and frequency of the vibrations.
Many times, we needed to compromise the task at work due to unexpected issues. One point where my group could have been efficacious was by planning better. The first day of building, not all the required supplies was available due to the fact our designs were not finished. The designs could have been more thought out so we could have an easier time actually constructing the instruments. This could have saved time and we would have been more efficient.
Tuning and precision was a very difficult piece to this project. We dedicated a lot of time to making sure the notes were precise; especially for the wind and chime instrument. This left our group with very little time to tune the remaining instrument. The issue with our string relying completely on tension was that after a certain length of time, the strings became slack. By tightening a piece of string over again and again, it stretched out certain strings are caused them to break. After realizing this, our group had to proceed very cautiously. Overall time management could be improved slightly.
Did you sea what I did there?
Throughout this project, there were many positive aspects of my group dynamic and the outcome. My group worked very well together and each person was capable of compromising and suggesting new ideas to benefit the project. I believe that everyone in my group maintained a positive attitude and that contributed to the overall morale. There were no arguments or conflicting opinions that caused issues; instead there was bonding over laughter and jokes.(I think I lost an electron. Are you positive? Yes. Then you better keep an ion it.) I really enjoyed participating with my group members and I had a lot of fun in Physics class recently.
Another exceptional point in this project was the productivity. Even though my group joked around, we could focus while it was necessary. We were able to prioritize and put a lot of effort into what was important. Aesthetics are a nice feature, but the learning took place when we tried to actually manipulate the wavelengths and frequency of the vibrations.
Many times, we needed to compromise the task at work due to unexpected issues. One point where my group could have been efficacious was by planning better. The first day of building, not all the required supplies was available due to the fact our designs were not finished. The designs could have been more thought out so we could have an easier time actually constructing the instruments. This could have saved time and we would have been more efficient.
Tuning and precision was a very difficult piece to this project. We dedicated a lot of time to making sure the notes were precise; especially for the wind and chime instrument. This left our group with very little time to tune the remaining instrument. The issue with our string relying completely on tension was that after a certain length of time, the strings became slack. By tightening a piece of string over again and again, it stretched out certain strings are caused them to break. After realizing this, our group had to proceed very cautiously. Overall time management could be improved slightly.
Did you sea what I did there?