Making Waves with Sound
Making Waves with Sound
Hey kids, have you ever wondered why you hear thunder after you see lightning? Or why the horn on a car sounds different when it’s coming toward you than when it’s moving away? Or why things sound different under water? It all has to do with sound waves!
Anything that vibrates makes a sound. Try this: put your hand gently against your throat and hum. Can you feel those vibrations? That’s your voice!
The faster something vibrates, the higher the sound is. And the bigger the vibrations, the louder the sound is. When something vibrates, it smashes into the particles of air, liquid, or solid around it. These particles then smash into the particles next to them, and send the sound along in a wave.
You can see the way sound travels by filling up a tub or sink with water. Put your hand in the water and give it a quick wave. See how the
