Teaching ideas Chapter 12
Sound
Syllabus sections covered: 3.4
Teaching resources Syllabus section
Topic
40-minute periods
Resources in Coursebook
3.4 (part)
Making sounds
1
Questions 12.1 and 12.2
3.4 (part)
The speed of sound
1
Activity 12.1 Measuring the speed of sound in air
Resources in Workbook
Resources on this CD-ROM
Exercise 12.1 Sound on the move
Worksheet 12.1 The speed of sound
Questions 12.3 to 12.5 3.4 (part)
Seeing sounds
2
Activity 12.2 Seeing sounds Questions 12.6 to 12.11
3.4 (part)
How sounds travel
1
Questions 12.12 to 12.14 EOCQs 1 to 11
Topic 1
Exercise 12.2 Sound as a wave
Making sounds
Coursebook section 12.1 Teaching ideas ◆
◆ ◆ ◆
In this topic, you establish the idea that sounds are produced by vibrating objects. Most audible sounds are produced by objects whose vibrations are too fast to see, but close observation of a guitar string shows that it is blurred after it has been plucked or strummed. Discuss with your students how musical instruments produce sounds. Ask them to demonstrate using their own instruments. Discuss also how the sound reaches our ears – the vibrations travel through air. Questions 12.1 and 12.2 sum this up.
Common misunderstandings and misconceptions ◆
It is impossible to see the air in a wind instrument vibrating, so you may have to assert this to your class.
Homework ideas ◆ ◆
Coursebook questions 12.1 and 12.2 Students could list, say, six musical instruments and describe how they vibrate to make a sound. Original material © Cambridge University Press 2014
© Cambridge University Press 2014 IGCSE Physics
Chapter 12: Teaching ideas
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