Hearing science experiment

Science experiment:

Question: What will happen to the sound if I change the shape of a piece of paper? (e.g. from a flat shape to a funnel shape)

Links to research about Sound:

http://www.thetech.org/exhibits/online/robotzoo/guide/bats_and_echoes.html

Hypothesis: (What do you think will happen?) e.g. I think that….

Materials needed: paper and tape

Experiment (procedure):

e.g. Step 1 - First hold a flat piece of paper against your ear. Block your other ear with your hand. Get your partner to speak to you. What is the sound like? Can you hear clearly?

Step 2 - Next, roll the piece of paper into a funnel shape. Put the funnel against your ear. Face the funnel towards your partner and listen to them speak. What does it sound like? Can you hear clearly?

Step 3 - Next, face the funnel to the side while your partner speaks to you. Does it make a difference to the sound that you can hear?

Step 4 - Put some cotton balls or tissue paper into the funnel to block one end. Does it make a difference to the sound you hear?

Step 5 - Next, roll the pie

Data (What happened?)

	Shape/object/materials	Results:
1	flat piece of paper	Works only a little
2	funnel facing to the front	The quality is much better
3	funnel facing to the side	it is harder to hear
4	cotton ball or tissue  blocking the narrow end of the funnel	can not hear very clearly
5	rolled up piece of paper (facing to the front)	It makes a difference and is a bit affective
6	rolled up piece of paper (facing to the side)	Is not a good quality but can still hear

Observations:

1) When I used a flat piece of paper the quality was ok because it was focusing on one area. 2) When I rolled up a piece of paper into a funnel  shape facing the front and my partner spoke, it made a big difference. 3) When the funnel was facing the the side, it wasn't very effective as the funnel facing the front. 4) When I put a tissue in the narrow end of the funnel, it was kind of hard to hear. 5) When I rolled up a piece of paper, it made a difference but the effects was not better then the funnel shape. 6) When I used the rolled up piece of paper (facing the side), it wasn’t a good quality but I could still hear.

Conclusion:

Using a funnel shaped piece of paper or any kind of funnel shaped object is very useful for hearing. It can also be used for amplifying your voice for a big crowd or call for someone a few metres away