Other
Two Bit Circus Foundation: Waves Sound
A series of lesson plans on the topic of sound waves. Hands-on activities and a student worksheet are included.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Sound Waves and Music: Sound Is a Pressure Wave
Students see illustrated diagrams and animations to help them understand the pressure characteristics of a sound wave.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Longitudinal Waves and Tuning Forks
This resource explores how vibrating objects produce sound waves. The site contains information and an animation.
Georgia State University
Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Transverse and Longitudinal Waves
The physics tutorial illustrates and explains the distinction between transverse and longitudinal waves. Related links provided.
ArtsNow
Arts Now Learning: Moving Sound [Pdf]
In this lesson plan, 4th graders will use movement and dance composition to aid their comprehension of sound and sound waves.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physical Science: Intensity and Loudness of Sound
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Discusses the intensity of sound and how it relates to loudness, the decibel levels of different sounds, and factors that affect sound intensity.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physical Science: Speed of Sound
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] What the speed of sound is and its variation in different media, and the effect of temperature on the speed of sound.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physical Science: Sound Waves
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Definition of sound, what sound waves are, how they are generated and what media they can travel through.
OpenSciEd
Open Sci Ed: Feeling the Sound
Feel the energy of a sound wave while adjusting the loudness and pitch.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physics: Waves Study Guide
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] This guide gives a detailed overview of mechanical waves and the characteristics of waves. Covers wave behavior, including types of interference, resonance, and the...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Fourth Grade Science: Physical Science: Characteristics of Sound
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Discusses sound waves and properties of sound.
Teachers TryScience
Teachers Try Science: Musical Coat Hangers
From the National Science and Technology Centre in Australia comes this easy experiment that shows how sound waves travel and what materials are good conductors of sound.
BBC
Bbc: Gcse Bitesize: Why Do Scientists Think That Light and Sound Are Waves?
Light travels as transverse waves and can travel through a vacuum. Sound travels as longitudinal waves and needs to travel through a solid, liquid or gas. Read about the properties of light and of sound, and learn the differences between...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: Live Exploration
Take a special trip to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra with GPB Education! This interactive virtual exploration offers students a behind-the-scenes experience as they learn about the science of sound and the preparation it takes to put on...
Energy4Me
Energy4me: Exploring Sound Waves
This activity explores the behavior of sound waves. Learn how to test how sound travels through different types of rock.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Beats and Interference of Sound Waves Review
Review of how to produce beats through the constructive and destructive interference of sound waves.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Analyzing the Interference of Sound Waves and Beats
A site for students to practice viewing two sound waves interference and analyze the patterns formed.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Transverse and Longitudinal Waves Review
Overview of key terms and skills for waves, including how to identify longitudinal and transverse waves.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Introduction to Sound Review
Review the key terms and skills for sound waves, including how to identify the nodes and antinodes for standing waves in tubes.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: The Effects of Ear Canal Acoustics on Hearing Ability
This is a five-question quiz related to the passage "The Effects of Ear Canal Acoustics on Hearing Ability."
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Sound Questions
Test your knowledge of sound with this ten-question quiz.
South Carolina Educational Television
Know It All: Audio Engineer | Kids Work!
Students will play the role of the audio engineer who monitors and adjusts the audio levels for a production. This animated interactive job exploration experience familiarizes students with some of the skills involved in audio engineering.
Energy4Me
Energy4me: Name That Tune
Students will learn that scientists use seismic technology (sound waves) to map patterns of rock formations below the surface of the earth and that different types of rocks affect sound waves.