Understanding Vibrations in Sound

Ava and Mateo made a paper cup telephone in school. Which statement describes how part of the paper cup telephone works?

• The string makes Mateo’s cup vibrate.

• Vibrations travel along the string.

• Ava’s voice makes one cup vibrate.

• Ava’s cup makes the string vibrate.

Answer explanation

The correct choice, 'Vibrations travel along the string,' explains how sound is transmitted in a paper cup telephone. When one cup vibrates, it sends vibrations through the string to the other cup, allowing the sound to be heard.

What happens to the vibrations in the string when there is no voice?

• There are no vibrations.

• The vibrations are the same as when the voice is quiet.

• The vibrations are bigger than when the voice is loud.

• The vibrations are smaller than when the voice is loud.

Answer explanation

When there is no voice, the string does not vibrate, resulting in no sound. Therefore, the correct answer is that there are no vibrations.

If someone talked with a voice between quiet and loud, how would the vibrations in the string compare to pictures 2 and 3?

• Bigger than picture 3, smaller than picture 2.

• Smaller than picture 2, bigger than picture 3.

• Bigger than picture 2, smaller than picture 3.

• The same as picture 1.

Answer explanation

A voice between quiet and loud produces moderate vibrations. Thus, the vibrations would be bigger than picture 2 (quiet) but smaller than picture 3 (loud), making the correct choice: bigger than picture 2, smaller than picture 3.

How should Ava and Mateo build a new paper cup telephone if they want to figure out which string works best?

• Put both the regular string and the stretchy rubber string between two cups.

• Take the regular string off of the cups and replace it with the stretchy rubber string.

• Attach one end of the stretchy rubber string to one cup and just hold the other end of the stretchy rubber string between their fingers.

• Try to use the stretchy rubber string with no cups at all.

Answer explanation

To determine which string works best, Ava and Mateo should replace the regular string with the stretchy rubber string on the cups. This allows them to directly compare the two strings' effectiveness in transmitting sound.

Does the paper cup telephone work better with a regular string or a stretchy rubber string?

• Regular string, because they could hear better with it.

• Stretchy rubber string, because it was more fun to use.

• Regular string, because it was easier to attach.

• Stretchy rubber string, because it was more colorful.

Answer explanation

The regular string transmits sound better than stretchy rubber string, allowing clearer communication. This is why the correct answer is that the regular string works better for the paper cup telephone.

An object that does not vibrate cannot produce

• Sound

• Light

• Heat

• Electricity

Answer explanation

An object must vibrate to create sound waves. If it does not vibrate, it cannot produce sound, making 'Sound' the correct answer. Light, heat, and electricity can be generated without vibration.

Vibration causes -

• spills

• cold

• sound

• light

Answer explanation

Vibration causes sound because it involves the oscillation of particles, creating pressure waves that we perceive as sound. Other options like spills, cold, and light are not direct results of vibration.

___________ is made when something vibrates

• light

• sound

• drum

• pounding

Answer explanation

Sound is produced when an object vibrates, creating pressure waves in the air. Unlike light, which travels in waves but does not require a medium, sound specifically relies on vibrations to exist.

Tags

NGSS.1-PS4-1

What is the role of the string in a paper cup telephone?

• To hold the cups together.

• To make the cups colorful.

• To transmit sound vibrations between the cups.

• To transmit light between the cups.

Which material would likely produce the clearest sound in a paper cup telephone?

• Cotton thread

• Metal wire

• Elastic band

• Plastic string