Tonoscope Sound Science Experiment

Get ready to see sound with this really fun sound science experiment. We’re building a tonoscope, a device that helps you see sound vibrations. It’s a fun activity that feeds the senses with science! And it’s a sneak peek into our STEAM Explorers Sound Ebook Unit Study that helps kids explore sound with hands-on science, technology, engineering, art, and math.

Explore sound science with a tonoscope, a device that helps you see sound vibrations. It's a super fun sound science experiment for kids. Purple background with paper towel roll that ends in a black circle covered with salt plus a small glass bowl of salt. Titles explore sound science with a tonoscope.
Explore sound science with a tonoscope, a device that helps you see sound vibrations. It's a super fun sound science experiment for kids. Purple background with paper towel roll that ends in a black circle covered with salt plus a small glass bowl of salt. Titles explore sound science with a tonoscope.

What is Sound?

Hear that? That’s sound! The interesting conversation you’re having with a friend or the music you love, is actually vibrations called sound waves. All sounds are the result of something vibrating, or moving back and forth from the spot where they sit when at rest. Sound vibrations move through matter like water, air, or metal, sending off a chain reaction of molecules hitting molecules to move from one place to the next.

What is a Tonoscope?

A tonoscope is a device that allows you to see these sound vibrations. The study of these vibration patterns is called cymatics. The patterns themselves are called Chladni Patterns after the German physicist and musician Ernst Chladni who is considered the father of acoustics. He used a metal plate with sand to observe these patterns. For this sound experiment, you’ll be building a tonoscope out of recyclables and a balloon.

Why Do We Hear Different Notes?

You’ve heard singers sing low notes and high notes and all the notes in between, right? When a singer sings a note, they make vibrations that travel through the air to your ears. Sound has different properties based upon these vibrations depending upon the pattern of waves the vibrations created. The sound wave’s frequency, how often it vibrates per second, defines how low or high a sound you hear. Low notes have low frequencies, meaning the vibrations occur fewer times per second than a high note which has a high frequency.

See the Tonoscope in Action

Check out how we made the tonoscope plus a sneak peek into some of the other projects in the STEAM Explorers Sound Ebook in this fun video.

 

Tonoscope Supplies Needed

This cool sound spotting device is made from some simple recyclables like yogurt or cottage cheese containers and paper towel rolls. We’ve also pulled together a helpful printable pack for this project that includes a lab worksheet and building instructions.

  • Recycled plastic food container like yogurt or salsa
  • 2 paper towel rolls
  • Marker or pen
  • Box cutter (adults only)
  • 12” or larger balloon
  • Rubber band
  • Scissors
  • Masking tape
  • Salt
  • Printable tonoscope lab worksheet

Simply fill out the form below and we’ll email the printable to you.

See sound with a tonoscope worksheet 1360x900
explore sound science with a tonoscope worksheet 1500x1500

FREE! PRINTABLE TONOSCOPE INSTRUCTIONS
AND LAB WORKSHEET

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How to Build a Tonoscope

  1. Place the end of a paper towel roll centered on the side of the yogurt container. Trace a circle around the roll end onto the container.
  1. ADULTS ONLY: Carefully cut out the circle using a box cutter.
  1. Cut out a 1” wide half circle into the end of one of the paper towel rolls using scissors.
  1. Insert the non-cut end of the paper towel roll from step 3 into the hole in the yogurt container and tape into place with masking tape.
  1. Insert the second paper towel roll into the cut end of paper towel roll from step 4. Angle it so that it points upwards and tape into place with masking tape.
  1. Cut the neck off of the balloon and stretch the balloon over the open top of the yogurt container until it is taught. Place a rubber band around the top of the yogurt container to secure the balloon.

How to Explore Sound with a Tonoscope

  1. Pour a small amount of salt onto the top of the tonoscope’s balloon. Start with about a teaspoon, but test for the right amount throughout the experiment. You need enough salt that it can pool into patterns, but not so much that it falls off the balloon.
  2. Wrap a hand around the top of the open end of the paper towel roll. Then place your mouth on your hand. (This keeps the tonoscope cleaner between uses.) Then hum, sing, or make another sound. How did the salt move on top of the balloon?
  1. Use the lab worksheet on the next page to document your observations if desired.
  • Try different pitches (notes from low to high) and watch how the salt patterns change.
  • Try different volumes and watch how the salt patterns change.
  • Try slowly singing a song and watch the pattern change as the song progresses.
  • Try making a sound that creates a single oval or elliptical shape. Here’s a hint, try saying “Om.”

More Sound Science (and STEAM) for Kids!

This tonoscope is a sneak peek into our Sound STEAM Explorers ebook unit study! Inside this fun activity pack, we’re exploring sound waves, animal ears, and of course, music. The kids will love creating their own rhythms, testing sound with spoons, seeing sound waves with salt, amping up their ear power with paper, and so much more! You’ll love the helpful standards-based learning, printables, and tools that make STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, & math) exploration easy!


See sound with a tonoscope worksheet 1360x900
explore sound science with a tonoscope worksheet 1500x1500

FREE! PRINTABLE TONOSCOPE INSTRUCTIONS
AND LAB WORKSHEET

!
!
Terms and Conditions checkbox is required.
Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.
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