Page 1: Plan the Energy Flow

Sound is produced by vibrations. Sound energy can transfer through air, string or another material to a receiver, such as an ear.

1. In your own words, explain how a vibration can make a sound.

2. Draw and label the energy flow for your prototype. Use arrows to show the energy pathway.

Start with the energy source. Show movement or vibration, sound energy, and the receiver.

3. What starts the system? What vibrates in your prototype, and where does the sound travel?

Page 2: Test Your Prototype

Test the same message at two distances. Record what you observe. Use words such as clear, quiet, loud or unclear.

4. Test distance 1: ______ metres

Was the message heard clearly? ______________________________

What did you observe?

5. Test distance 2: ______ metres

Was the message heard clearly? ______________________________

What did you observe?

6. Fair-test checklist: tick the things you kept the same.

The message

The prototype

The person sending the message

The test conditions

What one thing did you change or compare? ______________________________

7. Before improving our prototype, I observed:

8. After improving our prototype, I observed:

9. Which test distance worked better? Use evidence from your observations to explain why.

10. Complete the sentence starters.

Sound is energy because…

Our evidence shows…

Optional: Draw your improved prototype and label what vibrates.