Science project suggestions?

van · Post by **van** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 9:49 pm

My 6th grade grandson plays euphonium and wants to include that in a science project in some way. Something like how brass instruments work, or how does the length of the tubing affect the pitch of the note. We've found a lot of internet info on the physics of sound in a horn which could probably be simplified to 6th grade level but he would like some kind of a visual demonstration besides him just playing his horn. Any ideas? I found the "hosaphone" on the internet and we're thinking of making one. Any suggestions on how to make a simple working model of a rotary or piston valve that might be incorporated with a hosaphone type device?

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:08 pm

Well, first off, a hose is a cylindrical instrument and will not form tones the same way a brass instrument will. The overtone series will be more like a clarinet--overblowing on the 12th and not the octave.

Some of this can be fixed will a bel; I'd try a nice tall oil filler funnel like this:

And it might be a good idea to read this:

http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/jw/brassacoustics.html

Have fun!

davet · Post by **davet** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 8:42 am

I did a brass instrument demo for years with 1st graders.

Started with buzzing my uncontrolled lips-
then buzzed using my wedding ring-
next moved to 1/2 inch pvc of different lengths-
then used a bugle and a trumpet side by side before demonstrating how the valves inicreased the length of the tube-
relating back to the plastic pipe

used the concepts of longer = lower and fatter = lower

May or may not be useful to you......

ken k · Post by **ken k** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 11:03 pm

my son did his science fair project last year on the effect mutes have on the intonation of a trombone.

first he measured the pitch with a Korg tuner on the open horn as i played low Bb, F, middle Bb, D and high F. Then he measured the pitch on the same notes played with a plunger, a straight mute, a cup mute, a bucket mute, a practice mute and a harmon mute. Then he had to graph all the results and draw a conclusion, the typical scientific process stuff. Got an A! and he really did the work and research himself all i did was play the horn.

I always wanted to do some kind of a project on the harmonic series. if you could get an oscilliscope (sp?) you could measure the herz for each overtone and show the harmionic series that way.

You could also do a project showing the different shapes of sound waves produced by the different instruments. Not sure how you could turn that into a science project but it would be neat to do anyway. Woudl also need the oscilliscope for this one too.

ken k

Dylan King · Post by **Dylan King** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 12:25 am

If he has a lot of time, perhaps he could grow two groups of plants and place them in the same light with the same amount of water etc...

The only difference is he plays horn to one group of plants every day, while the other group stays in a quiet, controlled environment.

I wonder if the sound waves would have an effect on the growth of the plants?

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 2:03 am

Dylan King wrote:I wonder if the sound waves would have an effect on the growth of the plants?

Better to use recorded music, so no one accuses you of adding C02 to the experiment. The old 70's business of "talking to your plants" turned out to be nothing more or less than that.

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 11:53 am

First time I blew a tuba, it rattled the windows behind me. I wonder if a project could be done using a tuba demonstrating sympathetic vibrations.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 11:59 am

Rather than make a valve, you could make an ersatz straight trombone from plastic tubing that fits closely together enough.

DaTubaKid · Post by **DaTubaKid** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 4:25 pm

S"it may have adverse effects on the band program..."T

Or it may make the administration realize how much those horns need cleaning and send a few extra bucks towards the band program..

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 12:11 am

windshieldbug wrote:Rather than make a valve, you could make an ersatz straight trombone from plastic tubing that fits closely together enough.

You *might* be able to make a crude valve using bits and pieces of CPVC and PVC pipe and cork. A Vienna valve might be the simplest.

OTOH, making a flute from PVC pipe is pretty easy.

Dylan King · Post by **Dylan King** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 5:27 am

Chuck(G) wrote:The old 70's business of "talking to your plants" turned out to be nothing more or less than that.

That's what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZDn2BpvpkY

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 12:55 pm

Dylan King wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZDn2BpvpkY

"Oh well, 'ats botany, isn' it ?"