Free teacher web sites for Science topic ‘Physics - Sound’
Picking up good vibrations? You should be, because there are plenty of sound and music based resources are available here. Explore pitch and volume. We've linked this topic to an understanding of how the ear works.
3D animation of inside the ear
A super animation which swoops inside the cochleah to see the sensitive little "hairs" reacting to vibrations. Stand by for ahhs, oos and errrrs. Takes time to load and requires Quicktime plugin.
External link: 3D animation of inside the ear
- suitable for class use
- suitable for teachers’ personal use
Animation of inside the ear
Classic cut away section, which demonstrates the ear in action. Not labelled, but you'll have fun doing so on the whiteboard.
External link: Animation of inside the ear
- suitable for class use
- suitable for teachers’ personal use
Changing sounds
Change the length and thickness of a guitar string to hear the effect. Test a milk bottle and drum - also covers how the volume can be changed.
External link: Changing sounds
- suitable for class use
Ear animation
Forget the text, this BBC animation shows how sounds enter the ear... you know the rest.
External link: Ear animation
- suitable for class use
Find sound effects
Find sound effects - a 'teacher only' resource because this search engine can throw some 'interesting' results at you.
External link: Find sound effects
- suitable for teachers’ personal use
How we hear (visually)
This may take a moment to load but the pulsating circles demonstrate visually how we hear. Very interesting. Good for upper KS2.
External link: How we hear (visually)
- suitable for class use
- suitable for teachers’ personal use
Sound activities
Identifying common sounds and sorting instruments (instruments we blow, pluck, hit and shake).
External link: Sound activities
- suitable for class use
Sounds - Try the ocean odyssey
Lots of game-style fun here for lower KS2.
External link: Sounds - Try the ocean odyssey
- suitable for class use
Understanding music
Pitch, timbre, notes, duration, intervals, chords, scales, time signatures and dynamics all feature in this wonderful animation from the BBC.
External link: Understanding music
- suitable for class use
- suitable for teachers’ personal use
Volume of sounds
A great BBC simulation that demonstrates how to change the volume of the sound instruments produce. There's also a great ordering the sounds according to the volume!
External link: Volume of sounds
- suitable for class use