Science 3.06

Science 3.06

What is pitch?

Have you ever noticed how bells can sound different? There are big bells, bicycle bells, desk bells, and even jingle bells! Some have a low, deep sound. Others have a high, tinkling sound, like a bicycle bell. What causes the difference in the sound you hear? Well, it's all about the vibration. How something sounds depends on how fast or slow the vibrations are. Let's listen and learn! 

Multiple Choice

Pitch is...

• How loud or soft a sound is

• How high or low a sound is

When things vibrate, they create sound waves that travel through the material, also called the medium. The medium might be a solid, liquid, or gas. Sound waves create an up and down pattern, similar to a wave at the beach!

 The pattern of the waves can change, depending on the speed of the vibrations. When the pattern of the waves changes, the sound you hear also changes. 

High pitch sounds create patterns in which the tops of the waves are very close together. There are more vibrations in higher pitch sounds.

Low pitch sounds create patterns in which the tops of the waves are far apart. There are fewer vibrations in lower pitch sounds.

Multiple Choice

How can you change the pitch of a sound?

• by taking the box apart

• by tightening or loosening the rubber bands

• twisting the paper towel roll

• by taking the rubber bands off the box

Multiple Choice

What happened when you pull the rubber bands on the guitar tighter?

• the vibrations stop

• they break and cannot play

• there are less vibrations and a lower pitch

• there are more vibrations and a higher pitch

Multiple Choice

What happened when you loosen the rubber bands on the guitar?

• there are more vibrations and a higher pitch

• there are less vibrations and a lower pitch

• they fall off the guitar

• the paper towel roll falls off

Multiple Choice

What is a wave?

• It describes the change in sound in which something goes from high to low.

• It describes the flow of heat which flows from an area of high to low temperature.

• It describes the pattern of motion in which something moves back and forth.

• It describes the movement of air in which something moves in a circular pattern.

Multiple Choice

Which statement describes the wave pattern of a high pitch?

• The tops of the waves are close together.

• The tops of the waves are far apart.

• The height of the waves increases over time.

• eases over time.

Assignment for 3.06

Read the lesson

Complete the activities in the lesson

Complete Quiz for 3.06