Good Vibrations

Good Vibrations

Skills

observation

communicating

comparing

organizing

Materials

paper cups

paper clips

string(30 cm per person)

water (in a pan or bowl)

nail or something to punch a hole in the bottom of the cup

Doing the Activity

Punch a hole in the bottom of a paper cup.

Tie a paper clip to one end of the string.

Pull the other end of the string through the hole in the bottom of the cup.

Keep pulling until the paper clip is inside the cup on the bottom.

Dip the string in the water to get it wet.

Place the cup in one hand and firmly place the fingers of your other hand on the wet string, just beneath the cup.

Pull your fingers down the string. What happens?

Practice several times. You may need to get the string wet again.

Talking it over

Are all the sounds the same? Why or why not?

How could you change the sound your cup makes?

What other things have you seen that have strings and make a sound?

How would you design another musical instrument that uses a string?

What's Happening

Sounds are caused by vibrations. When we strike the string on a guitar, we hear a sound. This sound is the result of a movement called a vibration.

More Challenges

Try using cups of different sizes and compare the sounds they make.

Try using different sizes and kinds of string and compare the sounds they make.

Design another musical instrument that uses a string.

Activity Source

Sherwood, Elizabeth. More Mudpies To Magnets: Science For Young Children. Maryland: Gryphon House, Inc., 1990.

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	Good Vibrations
	Skills observation communicating comparing organizing
	Materials paper cups paper clips string(30 cm per person) water (in a pan or bowl) nail or something to punch a hole in the bottom of the cup
	Doing the Activity Punch a hole in the bottom of a paper cup. Tie a paper clip to one end of the string. Pull the other end of the string through the hole in the bottom of the cup. Keep pulling until the paper clip is inside the cup on the bottom. Dip the string in the water to get it wet. Place the cup in one hand and firmly place the fingers of your other hand on the wet string, just beneath the cup. Pull your fingers down the string. What happens? Practice several times. You may need to get the string wet again.
	Talking it over Are all the sounds the same? Why or why not? How could you change the sound your cup makes? What other things have you seen that have strings and make a sound? How would you design another musical instrument that uses a string?
	What's Happening Sounds are caused by vibrations. When we strike the string on a guitar, we hear a sound. This sound is the result of a movement called a vibration.
	More Challenges Try using cups of different sizes and compare the sounds they make. Try using different sizes and kinds of string and compare the sounds they make. Design another musical instrument that uses a string.
	Activity Source Sherwood, Elizabeth. More Mudpies To Magnets: Science For Young Children. Maryland: Gryphon House, Inc., 1990.