Key Concepts
Vibration
Frequency
Sound
Introduction
Have you ever tried to make a whistle out of a blade of grass? Or spun around a wooden noisemaker? Making unique sound makers can be lots of fun—and demonstrate some cool science at the same time. This activity will have you buzzing like a bee—and is a perfect one for playing outdoors. Once you understand the basics of how this noisemaker works, you can make a few of different sizes, share them with your friends and form a band of buzzing bees.
Background
Have you ever played around with a rubber band, plucking it to make noise? The sound you heard comes from the rubber band's vibrations, which create waves in the air that we perceive as sound. Insects' wings also make tiny waves in the air as they beat. These waves create the buzzing noise we hear as a fly zips by our head or a bumblebee bobs between nearby flowers. In this activity you will make a vibrating instrument that will sound like a buzzing bee!
Materials
Popsicle stick or craft stick
Cap erasers
Index card
String, about two or three feet long
Scissors
Stapler (It should be strong enough to staple the index card to the Popsicle stick.)
Wide rubber band, about one quarter inch wide. (That's long enough to stretch the long way around your Popsicle stick—for example, a number 64 rubber band would work.)
A wide-open space clear of nearby people and objects (It could be either outdoors or in a large room or garage.)
Preparation
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Put a cap eraser on each end of the Popsicle stick.
Trim an index card so it fits in the space between the two erasers on the Popsicle stick.
Staple the card to the Popsicle stick.
Stretch rubber band lengthwise from end to end so that it covers the tips of both erasers.
Cut enough string, about two feet, to safely swing your creation.
Tie the string next to one eraser; make sure it's secure.
Procedure
Do not stand too close to people or objects. When you swing the creation, what part(s) do you think will move?
Hold the end of the string and swing your creation in a circle. What sound(s) did you hear when you swung the object around?
Try swinging the object slower, then faster. Does the sound change at all? Why do you think that is? What do you think might change the sound you hear?
Try changing the length of the string. Does that alter the pitch?
Now try changing the shape of the index card. What happens when the card is slit, curved or folded?
Extra: Use a rubber band that is a different size. How does it sound?
Extra: Try the same activity scaled up: Use a tongue depressor with masking tape wrapped around the ends and a bigger rubber band.
Observations and results
Moving air flowing over the rubber band makes it vibrate the same way wind blowing over a flag makes it wave. These vibrations produce sound, like the strings on a guitar do. As the rubber band vibrates, it shakes the entire contraption including the index card. Because the vibrating index card moves along with the rubber band but pushes a lot more air than the latter it amplifies the sound. Did you find ways to change the pitch of your contraption's sound?
More to Explore
Ear Guitar, from Exploratorium
Sound Facts, from Science Kids
What Makes a Bee Buzz?, from Highlights Kids
Accidental Scientist: Music, from Exploratorium
“Buzz Like a Bee” was developed by Exploratorium and is on page 80 of Exploralab. Created by Exploratorium, “Exploralab: 150 Ways to Investigate the Amazing Science All around You” is a book that takes curious kid scientists, ages eight to 12, through 24 hours' worth of household investigations, experiments and discoveries.
This activity brought to you in partnership with Exploratorium