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Science Experiments

How to See Sound

What does sound look like? This fun 5-item science experiment helps kids “see” sound waves and have fun while doing it.

In this article, we include a demonstration video, a supplies list, detailed printable instructions, experiment variations, and an easy to understand scientific explanation of how it works.

Bonus: Kids love this experiment because not only are they allowed to make loud drumming noises, it’s required!

 

Seeing Sound Science Experiment

 

How to See Sound Science Experiment Video

Supplies Needed

  • Large Bowl
  • Plastic Wrap
  • 1 teaspoon Uncooked Rice
  • Metal Pan (Cookie Sheets or Pans are good options, but they must be metal)
  • Metal Spoon

Experiment Instructions

Seeing Sound Experiment - Step 1

Step 1 – Tear off a piece of plastic wrap big enough to cover the top of the bowl.

Seeing Sound Experiment - Step 2

Step 2 – Secure the plastic wrap over the bowl. Make sure that the plastic wrap is very tight.

Seeing Sound Experiment - Step 3

Step 3 – Pour 1 teaspoon of uncooked rice on the top of the plastic wrap.

Seeing Sound Experiment - Step 4

Step 4 – Hold the metal pan in the air and position it next to the bowl.

Seeing Sound Experiment - Step 5

Step 5 – Take the metal spoon and bang on the metal pan like a drum and watch what happens to the rice.

How Does the Experiment Work?

Sound is a disturbance that travels through a medium as a wave. In this experiment, when you hit the metal pan with the spoon, you disturb the particles of the pan causing them to vibrate. The vibrations in the pan are transferred to the air surrounding the pan, creating a sound wave.

When these sound waves reach the plastic wrap it disturbs the particles of the plastic wrap causing them to vibrate. These vibrations in the plastic wrap cause the rice to move. Sound waves traveling through the air are also what allow us to hear the noise of the spoon hitting the pan.

Other Ideas to Try

Try this experiment again, but change the distance of the pan from the bowl. As you move the pan farther away from the bowl, do the sound waves have the same effect on the rice grains?

I hope you enjoyed the experiment. Here are some printable instructions:

Seeing Sound Experiment - Step 3

How to See Sound Science Experiment

Materials

  • Large Bowl
  • Plastic Wrap
  • 1 teaspoon Uncooked Rice
  • Metal Pan (Cookie Sheets or Pans are good options, but they must be metal)
  • Metal Spoon

Instructions

  1. Tear off a piece of plastic wrap big enough to cover the top of the bowl.
  2. Secure the plastic wrap over the bowl. Make sure that the plastic wrap is very tight.
  3. Pour 1 teaspoon of uncooked rice on the top of the plastic wrap.
  4. Hold the metal pan in the air and position it next to the bowl
  5. Take the metal spoon and bang on the metal pan like a drum and watch what happens to the rice.
© Cool Science Experiments HQ
Seeing Sound Science Experiment - Steps


9 Comments

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Catharina says

    September 27, 2016 at 2:29 pm

    I am trying to see the answer for the “Why can’t we see sound?” but I xan’t find it here. Can you help me, please?

    Reply
    • Spongebob says

      February 2, 2017 at 11:37 pm

      Invisible sound waves

      Reply
    • Sam says

      May 21, 2019 at 9:57 pm

      Sound is a vibration

      Reply
  2. Sofia Morrissey says

    March 12, 2017 at 10:15 pm

    Because when you hit the tin it makes a hard and loud noise.

    Reply
  3. Lil D says

    December 7, 2017 at 2:44 pm

    This was an amazing experiment ever

    Reply
  4. audriana says

    January 31, 2018 at 5:08 pm

    It is because the rice is having potential energy while it is on the wrap. Than and only then when you hit the pan is when it turns to kinetic energy.

    Reply
  5. Jane Roche says

    October 31, 2018 at 8:56 pm

    The sound waves bounce off the pan and travel to the drum. The drum vibrates and the rice jumps.

    Reply
  6. Eileen Blecher says

    January 26, 2019 at 5:32 pm

    Why can’t I get this to work

    does the type of plastic wrap matter?

    Reply
    • Ester says

      March 9, 2020 at 8:21 pm

      it doesn’t work for me too ๐Ÿ™

      Reply

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