SODA BOTTLE MUSIC

PROBLEM: How does the amount of water in a glass soda bottle affect the sound it makes when you hit the bottle?

RESEARCH: Look up wavelength and pitch in a science textbook. What do you think the wavelength is for the notes you will make with your soda bottles?

HYPOTHESIS: Do you think the pitch of the notes you get from the soda bottles will go up or down when you take the water out?

MATERIALS:

4 16 oz. glass soda bottles

Spoon

PROCEDURE:

1. Fill the soda bottles to the top with water.

2. Remove 100 ml. of water from the first bottle, 200 ml. of water from the second bottle, 300 ml. of water from the third bottle, and 400 ml. of water from the fourth bottle.

3. Tap the side of each glass bottle gently with the spoon.

4. Record your data.

5. Enrichment: Repeat the procedure using very hot water, then very cold water. What do you think would happen to the sound if you froze the water. (If you try this, be sure to leave the top off the bottles. The water will expand as it freezes and the bottles will break.)

6. Enrichment: Repeat the procedure using 8 soda bottles. Make 8 notes and play “Mary had a Little Lamb” or some other tune you know. Demonstrate your playing ability to the class.

DATA:          Make a table to record your observations and inferences.

CONCLUSION: This is not optional. You must explain what you learned by doing this activity.

Remember that you must answer the question you asked in your original problem statement.

NOTE: BE SURE TO HAVE YOUR PARENT OR GUARDIAN SIGNS YOUR WORK. PARENTS: YOUR SIGNATURE SHOWS YOUR STUDENT HAS DONE THE WORK.

E-Mail

Judy Schneider

!