October 2020 Grant Recipients

Sound waves are typically invisible to the human eye. However through the use of a Chladni Plate, mechanical wave driver and a sine wave generator, students will be able to visibly see the effects of sound waves. To set this up, the teacher needs to set the Chladni plate on the mechanical wave driver which has been wired to the sine wave generator. As the teacher adjusts the sine wave generator to produce different frequencies(pitches), the sand that has been sprinkled on the Chladni plate will move into various shapes and patterns to match those frequencies. This can be explained to the students that the patterns they are seeing are created by sound waves. The teacher can then discuss why certain parts of the plate are clear from sand while others sections allowed a pattern to form. This demonstration lays the foundation for the study of overtones and frequencies. This will help prepare students to understand the connection between sound and vibration. This is a very cool and unique demonstration that kids are sure to talk about for years to come.