Look! What we did!

Today we were studying sound waves and vibrations.  We found the following experiment on NASA's website and the kids had a great time trying it.  We are linking up with Theresa at Red Oak Lane today with her "Look what we did" linkup.

Good Vibrations

Purpose: This activity investigates sound vibrations.
         
Materials

• an empty coffee can with a plastic lid
• uncooked rice grains or small black beans
• metal tablespoon
• notebook

Procedure

1. Place the coffee can in the center of a table. Make sure the plastic lid is on tight.
2. Place a 1/2 tablespoon of rice in the center of the plastic lid. Predict what will happen.
3. Strike the rim with a metal tablespoon.
4. Observe what happens to the rice grains.
5. Record observations in a notebook.

Conclusion

1. What causes the rice to bounce?
2. What is needed to make the rice jump higher?

What's Happening?
A series of energy transfers makes the rice jump or move. The energy used to tap the tablespoon on the coffee can lid was transferred into a moving vibration that bounced around inside the can in all directions. As the vibrations hit the lid, the energy or vibrations transferred to the rice, and the rice then vibrated or jumped off the surface of the lid.

We also dropped a marble into water to watch the vibrations and circles travel through the water:

Happy to link-up with our science experiment today!