Sound


Sasha Meany is the organizer of the town's huge bicentennial celebration. Fireworks, balloons, parade -- everything must be perfect. Or else!


Shep Sherman is responsible for firing a cannon to begin the celebration. He must fire the shot at the stroke of midnight, not a second before or after.


But the crowd in the town square doesn't hear the cannon until 10 seconds after midnight. "I'm ruined! My reputation is tarnished forever!" shrieks Sasha.


Sasha sues Shep for ruining her reputation. Alison Krempel agrees to represent Shep in Science Court. But he's late to the trial! Does this prove he's guilty?


Professor Parsons suggests a scientific explanation: the crowd didn't hear the cannon until 10 seconds after Shep fired it because of the time it took the sound waves to travel through the air, not because Shep was late.


Sasha's attorney, Doug Savage, objects. Sound travels from one place to another instantaneously, doesn't it? It's up to Judge Stone and the Science Court jury to decide. Sounds like a tough case.

Science Court challenge question:

Would you be able to hear an explosion
in outer space?

 

Before you answer... try these simple experiments.

Can Sound Travel Through Things?

You'll Need

  • a metal spoon
  • string

What to Do

  1. Drop the spoon onto a table. Observe the sound it makes.
  2. Tie a piece of string to the middle of the spoon, leaving approximately 15 to 20 inches of string on either end.
  3. Wrap the ends of the string around your index fingers, leaving the spoon dangling in front of you. Make sure that both ends of the string are taut.
  4. Place your index fingers in your ears.
  5. Tap the spoon against the edge of the table. What sound does it make? Does it sound the same as when you dropped it on the table earlier?
  6. Tap the spoon against other things in the room, and observe the sounds you hear. What happens if you strike things gently, or with more force?
  7. Write about your observations. How do you think you can hear the sounds the spoon makes, even though your fingers are in your ears?

Ask
Professor
Parsons

Professor Parsons

Click Professor Parsons for an explanation of how sound travels.

Sound Waves

You'll Need

  • empty soup can
  • can opener
  • large balloon
  • flashlight
  • small mirror
  • scissors
  • rubber band
  • glue
  • a parent to help you with the can opener

What to Do

  1. Ask a parent to help you remove both ends of the soup can with the can opener, and carefully remove any sharp edges.
  2. Cut the balloon so that it has a large, flat surface area and stretch the balloon around one end of the soup can. Secure the balloon with the rubber band.
  3. Glue a small mirror (like a mirror from a makeup compact) to the center of the stretched balloon. Be sure that the relective side is facing up.
  4. Place the can on a table and secure it so that it doesn't roll away.
  5. Turn the lights out and shine the flashlight onto the mirror at an angle so that the light bounces off the mirror and reflects on the wall.
  6. Clap your hands next to the open end of the soup can. What happens to the reflection on the wall?
  7. Shout into the open end of the can. What happens? Write your observations.

 

So, what do you think?
Would you be able to hear an explosion in outer space?

 

Yes, you would.

No, you would not.

 

All text, images, and music copyright © 1997 Science Court, Inc. All rights reserved.