What we built
Above is our Google doc. It has descriptions of our instruments and charts for the notes.
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Our wind instrument was a flute. Our flute is made up of PVC pipe, a stopper at the top, a mouth piece over the stopper, and has 6 holes so it can play a scale. We found the holes by using the formula where you take the length of the whole flute and divide it by the twelfth root of two. Or you could use one of the many helpful online calculators that will calculate it for you. In order to play the flute we blow into the mouthpiece and the air is directed through the top of stopper which then goes to the mouthpiece which splits the air. The air resonates throughout the whole flute and that causes the sound. Holes located ¼ the wave length create the notes. We changed the sound by covering hole where air/sound escapes, this neutralizes the pressure, and creates the first quarter of the wave, the rest is caused by the compression and expansion of the medium.
Our bass is a single string bass with a sound box amplifying out the backside of the instrument. We were able to make notes by having the player constricted the string at varying lengths. We found these lengths by cutting the notes wavelengths in half. This is because when you play a string instrument you only strum upwards, but waves have crests and troughs. Since playing a string instrument only creates a crest we have to divide all wavelengths in half. For instance the wavelength of C3 is 263.7 cm long, so we marked C3 132 cm up. To amplify our instrument we created a box at the base of the bass. This creates extra vibrations, amplifying the sound. To tune the instrument, make the string more taught. Tightening the string makes a higher note. The chimes we built were a set of 8 cut EMT conduits that range from 29.5cm to 16 cm in length. We have the chimes supported by three pieces of wood and are suspended by fishing wire. The reason wind chimes work is because it vibrates of the pipe which radiates the sound after being hit. When struck; the chimes based on how long or short they are cut vibrate at different pitches, making the different notes. |
Concepts
Wavelength: Wavelength is the distance from any point on one wave to the same point on the next wave. It can be calculated using the equation: wavelength =v/f
Frequency: Frequency is how many vibrations a wave has in a period of time. Frequency is measured in Hz, which is waves per second. It can be calculated using f=wave speed/wavelength, or f=1/period.
Wave Speed: Wave speed is the speed at which a wave travels.It is calculated by the formula wave speed=D/t, or
wave speed = f/wavelength. Wave speed is measured in m/s.
Period: Period is the amount of time between vibrations in a wave. It is measured in seconds. Period can be calculated using the equation: Period =1/f.
Amplitude: Amplitude is the distance from a wave's equilibrium to it's crest. It is the volume in sound waves. Amplitude is measured in meters and there is no formula because it is just a distance.
Transverse wave: Transverse waves travel in one direction, and the direction they vibrate in is perpendicular to the direction they travel. The electromagnetic spectrum consists of transverse waves, which is made up of visible light, ultraviolet, infrared, x-ray, gamma, radio, and microwave. Transverse waves are faster than alternative waves and can also travel through a vacuum.
Longitudinal wave: Longitudinal waves are the second type of wave. Their direction of travel and vibration are the same. A longitudinal wave compresses and expands whatever medium it travels. An example of a longitudinal wave is a sound wave. Longitudinal waves travel slower than transverse waves. Since they need a medium to move, longitudinal waves cannot move in a vacuum, such as space.
Frequency: Frequency is how many vibrations a wave has in a period of time. Frequency is measured in Hz, which is waves per second. It can be calculated using f=wave speed/wavelength, or f=1/period.
Wave Speed: Wave speed is the speed at which a wave travels.It is calculated by the formula wave speed=D/t, or
wave speed = f/wavelength. Wave speed is measured in m/s.
Period: Period is the amount of time between vibrations in a wave. It is measured in seconds. Period can be calculated using the equation: Period =1/f.
Amplitude: Amplitude is the distance from a wave's equilibrium to it's crest. It is the volume in sound waves. Amplitude is measured in meters and there is no formula because it is just a distance.
Transverse wave: Transverse waves travel in one direction, and the direction they vibrate in is perpendicular to the direction they travel. The electromagnetic spectrum consists of transverse waves, which is made up of visible light, ultraviolet, infrared, x-ray, gamma, radio, and microwave. Transverse waves are faster than alternative waves and can also travel through a vacuum.
Longitudinal wave: Longitudinal waves are the second type of wave. Their direction of travel and vibration are the same. A longitudinal wave compresses and expands whatever medium it travels. An example of a longitudinal wave is a sound wave. Longitudinal waves travel slower than transverse waves. Since they need a medium to move, longitudinal waves cannot move in a vacuum, such as space.
Reflection
I think this project went really nicely. I say this because our group new each other well and we could get straight to work instead of it being awkward and trying to break the ice. I felt like our group has a whole collaborated really well, and the constant nagging and ripping on each other was like a boost for us to strive or do better. I think that we also did well in dividing the labor into parts where it was really needed in places and where it wasn't needed in some places. One thing i didn't do well was procrastinating and getting off task. I think i spent the same amount of time finding creative ways of not doing work then actually doing the work. But next I will make sure that doesn't happen. But overall in a nutshell this project will down in the books as a really fun one.