Kids Science Experiments - Sound & Vibration Facts

Sound and Vibration Facts

Although there are many different sounds, they still have one thing in common. Sound can only happen when something has vibrated. This vibration of sound moves backwards and forwards.

Some vibrations of sound are very obvious; as you can see where the sound is coming from. Other vibrations of sound are not so obvious, they are invisible vibrations. To see an invisible vibration in action go to - Surprising Senses, then click on Seeing the Vibration Experiment.

Sounds reach our ears by the air being vibrated. Air is squashed and stretched to make sound waves. When sound waves travel through the air the vibrations reach our ears and they make our eardrums vibrate, this then sends a message to our brain and the brain hears the sound.

Sound waves need a material to travel through or they cannot travel from one place to another. Most sounds we hear have traveled through air. Sound can travel throug other material such as liquids and solids.

When sound waves travel through liquids and solids they are changed. Sounds seem strange when passed through liquids and solids.

Sound cannot travel through a vacuum seal as there is no air to stretch and squash.