For this project, we learned about waves, sound, and pitch to create three different musical instruments that can play at least six different notes. We had to make a string instrument, a percussion instrument, and a wind instrument. We made a ukulele, a flute, and rain sticks.
Concepts
wave - a disturbance that repeats regularly in space and time and that is transmitted progressively from one place to the next with no actual transport of matter. wavelength - the distance from the top of the crest of the wave to the following crest, or another successive identical part of the wave. frequency - the number of events per time; measured in Hertz; inverse of period. period - the time required to complete a single cycle. pitch - how high or low sound frequencies appear to be. velocity(of a wave) - speed together with the direction of motion. string instrument - a musical instrument sounded by plucking or striking or by drawing a bow across its tight strings. wind instrument - a musical instrument sounded by the vibration of air, typically by the player blowing into the instrument. percussion instrument - a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a beater struck. transverse waves - a wave with vibration at right angles to the direction the wave is traveling(below left). longitudinal waves - a wave in which the vibration is in the same direction as that in which the wave is travelling(below right).
Reflection
During this project, we went through many ups and downs. One of the best times was at the beginning of the project. We were all very excited to begin and plan our instruments. We had so many ideas that it was hard to choose just three instruments to make. Right after the beginning was a harder part of the project. We were starting to build our instruments, and we realized it was going to be a bit harder than we had anticipated. It took us several days to draw blueprints for our instruments. After we got the blueprints down, we started to build our instruments. The rain sticks were going well, but it was hard to find the right places for the holes on the flute. The guitar was probably the hardest instrument of all. Making it was definitely the hardest part of the project. We had almost finished our guitar, but when we tried to play it, we noticed something was wrong. The wood we had used was too thick and therefore the vibration of the strings was not enough to make the wood vibrate and amplify the sound. Knowing this, we set out to make another guitar using thinner and harder wood. With the sizes that were available to us, we had to make a smaller string instrument. So, we ended up making a ukulele. The end of the project was another of the better times. We had three complete instruments that play notes in tune. During this project, I learned lots of things. From making rain sticks, I learned the difference between garbanzo beans and pinto beans. From the flute, I learned that math isn't always accurate and you also often need qualitative evidence. From the guitar, I learned that sometimes starting over is the best thing to do. All in all, I really enjoyed this project and I learned a lot.