Year 4’s science lesson focussed on how sound vibrations require a medium in order to travel because of the particles required to vibrate against one another. We also learnt that in space, there are virtually no air molecules or particles for sound waves. As a result, sound cannot travel in this environment.

We carried out 3 different experiments today to test how well sound travels through solids, liquids and gases. To test the solids, we had a metal coat hanger and tied two pieces of string the bottom of it. We then wrapped the string round our finger on each hand and put our fingers in our ears whilst our partner tapped the hanger. We discovered that the sound was travelling very well through this particular medium and a lot of the children were amazed by the results.

To test liquids, we tapped two forks under a bowl of water and for gasses, we played a song at the same volume from the laptop and increased our distance from the source.

By the end of the lesson, all children were confident in being able to say that sound travelled fastest through the solid because of the close proximity between particles.