Activity length, energy sound, activity type, exploration.
Using two different media (air and water) in glass bottles show how the speed of vibrations affects pitch . Students will determine which results in a higher pitch: a full bottle or an empty bottle.
Pitch is the way that your ear and brain order sounds based on their frequency (vibrations per second). Rapid vibrations (high frequency) that reach your ear are categorized as a "higher" pitch, while slower vibrations (low frequency) are categorized as a "lower" pitch. Musicians label the pitches with the letters A through G.
When you tap a glass of water with a pencil or spoon the water molecules vibrate and create sound waves through the water. More water means slower vibrations and a deeper tone. Each of the bottles will have a different pitch when hit with the pencil. The bottle with the most water will have the lowest pitch while the bottle with the least water will have the highest.
When you blow across the top of the bottle, you set the air molecules vibrating and produce sound waves. In this case, more water results in a higher pitch, as opposed to tinkling the bottle. When the bottle has a small amount of water in it, the air molecules have lots of room and vibrate slower. Adding more water gives them less space to vibrate in, making them vibrate faster and producing a higher pitch.
Describe the properties of sound.
Describe pitch and how it varies.
Per Class: blackboard/whiteboard and chalk/marker
Per Student: identical glass bottles filled with various amounts of water (glass baby bottles work well) spoons or pencils
Key Questions
Which bottle will produce the highest pitch if we tap the bottle with a spoon? Which bottle will produce the lowest pitch?
How do the bottles differ between the highest pitch to the lowest pitch?
Which bottle will produce the highest pitch if we blow across the top of the bottle?
Which bottle will produce the lowest pitch?
Why does blowing across the top of the bottle and tapping the bottle produce different sounds? (Hint: Think about which medium is being vibrated in each case.)
Preparation
Fill the glass bottles with different amounts of water.
At one end of the blackboard/whiteboard, write “HIGHEST pitch”. At the other end write “LOWEST pitch”.
Part 1: Tapping bottles
Each student taps their bottle and compares their pitch with those of their classmates.
The students put themselves in order along the blackboard from the highest pitch to the lowest pitch.
Once the students are in order, ask each student to tap their bottle to compare the various pitches.
Part 2: Blowing across the bottle
Each student blows across the top of their bottle and compares their pitch with those of their classmates.
Once the students are in order, ask each student to blow across the top of their bottle to compare the various pitches.
Play the bottles to interpret a popular children’s song such as “Mary Had a Little Lamb” or “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”.
Separate into teams of 6–7 students, with a "conductor" for each team. Decide as a team whether you will blow across the bottles or tap the bottles to produce your notes. You’ll need some time to fiddle with the amounts of water in the bottles if you want your song to be musical!
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Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.
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Bottled Music
Learn how to make a musical instrument using glass bottles filled with water.
Fill the bottles with varying amounts of water.
Arrange the bottles in order from most to least full.
Blow across the top of each bottle and compare the different sounds you make.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
Changing the amounts of air and water in the bottles lets you change the pitch—how high or low the sound is. When you blow across the tops of the bottles, you're making the air inside vibrate. In bottles with more air, vibrations are slower, so the pitch is lower.
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Key concepts Music Sounds Physics Sound waves Introduction Have you ever blown across a bottle's top and made a pleasant, resonant sound? If so, have you wondered exactly how that note is made? A bottle is actually what is called a "closed-end air column." Clarinets and some organ pipes are examples of musical instruments that work in the same way. In this science activity you will use bottles to investigate how the length of a closed-end air column affects the pitch of the note that it makes. Background Some musical instruments produce sound from vibrating strings, others from vibrating reeds and still others from resonating columns of air. In this activity you'll try a simple example of the latter type of instrument: narrow-necked bottles that are partially filled with water. These bottles will function as closed-end air columns, which are basically tubes that are open at one end but closed (or covered) at the other. How do musical instruments make the sounds that they do? All sound is made by vibrations that travel through the air. Specifically, these vibrations cause patterns of air compression that travel as a wave, with air pressure increases being followed by decreases. This is how sound itself is a wave. The pitch of the sound we hear depends on the frequency of the wave—how quickly an increase in air pressure is followed by a decrease. Higher pitches have higher frequencies. Materials
Three identical narrow-neck bottles (They can be glass or plastic.)
Permanent marker
Preparation
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Make sure the bottles are clean and empty.
Try blowing across the tops of the bottles you selected to make a resonant sound. Do this by holding the bottle upright (so it is perpendicular to your face). Touch your lower lip to the edge of the bottle, pursing your upper lip and blowing gently over the opening. When you get the angle and airflow just right, you will hear a musical note as the air column in the open bottle resonates. How does the bottle sound? If you cannot make a note by blowing over the bottles, try using different bottles for this activity.
Procedure
Measure the height of one of the bottles. Using the permanent marker and ruler, make a small mark at exactly halfway up the bottle. Fill this bottle with water up to the mark you made.
On another bottle make a small mark at exactly three quarters up. Fill this bottle with water up to the mark you just made.
Leave the third bottle empty.
Blow across the top of the empty bottle, as you did before. Make sure you can make a clear note. Then blow across the top of the half-full bottle. How does the note that the half-full bottle makes compare with that made by the empty bottle? Is the note from the half-full bottle higher or lower in pitch?
Then blow across the top of the bottle that is three quarters full. It may take some practice to make a note from this bottle. How does the note this bottle makes compare with the one made by the half-full bottle? Is it higher or lower in pitch than the half-full bottle?
Overall, how do the notes made from the three bottles compare with one another? Why do you think that is?
Extra: If you have a piano, electronic keyboard or other musical instrument (or an electronic tuner), you could try comparing the notes from the bottles with the notes on a real instrument. Alternatively, you could try slowly filling a bottle with water, checking what notes it makes as it becomes fuller, and compare those with a real instrument. What notes does it sound like the bottles are making? Can you figure out a relationship between the three notes from the bottles used in this activity?
Extra: Try repeating this activity but use bottles that are different shapes and sizes. Does the shape or size of the bottle affect the note it makes? What about the height of the bottle or how full with water it is (or the level of remaining air)?
Extra: If you have narrow-neck glass bottles, instead of blowing over the tops of the bottles try lightly tapping them (below the waterline) with a wooden mallet. How does the note produced by tapping a bottle change with its water level? Can you explain how this works?
[break] Observations and results Did the empty bottle produce the lowest pitch? Did the bottle that was filled three quarters full with water make the highest pitch? When playing a musical instrument that is a closed-end air column, such as the bottles in this activity, the pitch of the note that is made depends on the length of the air column. In other words, the pitch depends on how much water has filled up the bottle and how much empty space remains. This is because the pitch of the sound we hear depends on the frequency of the sound wave that can be created within the bottle's air. The shorter the air column (that is, the shorter the height of the air in the bottle) the higher the frequency. And the higher the frequency the higher the perceived pitch. This is why the empty bottle should have produced a sound wave with a lower frequency than the others and the bottle that was nearly full (three quarters full) should have made the highest pitch. In fact, because the air column in the half-full bottle was half the length of the air column in the empty bottle, the half-full bottle should have produced a frequency that was twice the empty bottle's frequency. (For more on the mathematics behind this, see the "More to explore" section.) Similarly, the three-quarter-full bottle should have produced a frequency that was twice that of the half-full bottle. When one sound wave is twice the frequency of another, the pitches made are one octave apart. (For example, the middle C note on a piano has a frequency of 262 hertz whereas the C that is one octave higher has a frequency of 524 hertz.) This means that the half-full bottle should have made a note one octave higher than the empty bottle, and the three-quarter-full bottle should have made a note one octave higher than the half-full one. More to explore Sound Waves and Music , from the Physics Classroom Air Column Resonance , from HyperPhysics Blowing Bottle Tops: Making Music with Glass Bottles , from Science Buddies Science Activities for All Ages! , from Science Buddies
This activity brought to you in partnership with Science Buddies
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Science Experiments
Musical Jars Science Experiment
A fun science experiment and music lesson all in one! This easy experiment allows kids to learn and make noise (music) in the process.
Kids can explore and investigate sound waves, pitch, and more as they create their own simple musical instrument. Watch our demonstration video below then print out our materials list and instruction sheet to get started. An easy to understand explanation of how the experiment works is included.
JUMP TO SECTION: Instructions | Video Tutorial | How it Works
Supplies Needed
Set of Glasses of equal shape and size
Metal Spoon
Food Coloring (optional)
Musical Jars Science Lab Kit – Only $5
Use our easy Musical Jars Science Lab Kit to grab your students’ attention without the stress of planning!
It’s everything you need to make science easy for teachers and fun for students — using inexpensive materials you probably already have in your storage closet!
Musical Jar Science Experiment Instructions
Step 1 – Begin with empty glass jars of the same shape and size. Use the metal spoon to tap on each one. What do you observe? Do they sound the same? Yes! At this point you’ll notice that each sound is the same. Now let’s find out if we can make the sounds different.
Step 2 – Pour water into each jar. Make sure that the water level is different in each jar.
Step 3 – Add food coloring to each jar to make it easier to see the different water levels. You can use the same color in each jar or use a rainbow of colors as we did. This is an optional step, but it adds to the fun!
Step 4 – Use the same metal spoon to tap on the jars again. Listen carefully so you can hear how the sounds have changed. Do you know the reason why the jars make different sounds? Find out the answer in the how does this experiment work section below.
Video Tutorial
How Does the Science Experiment Work
Sound is a disturbance that travels through a medium as a wave. In this experiment, tapping on the jars with the spoon disturbs the particles of the jar causing them to vibrate. The vibrations in the jar are transferred to the air surrounding the jar, creating a sound wave. When the jars are all empty, the vibrations and the sounds are all the same. Adding different amounts of water to the jars causes the vibrations (and sound) to change.
You can change the pitch of the sound produced by the amount of water you put in the glass. Pitch is how high or low sound seems to a person and it depends on the frequency of the sound wave. When you add more water to the glass, the pitch is low. This is because the high volume of water in the glass makes it more difficult for the glass particles to vibrate, so the vibrations of the glass are slower and they have a lower frequency. When you add less water to the glass, the pitch is high. This is because the low volume of water in the glass allows the glass particle to vibrate more easily, so the vibrations of the glass are faster and have a higher frequency.
More Science Fun
After your kids understand the concepts of the experiment, turn it into a music lesson. Take turns playing songs and guessing the melody.
For another fun sound experiment, enjoy banging on a pan with this How to See Sound Experiment !
I hope you enjoyed the experiment. Here are some printable instructions:
Instructions
Begin with empty glass jars of the same shape and size. Use the metal spoon to tap on each one. You’ll notice that each sound is the same. Now let’s find out if we can make the sounds different.
Pour water into each jar. Make sure that the water level is different in each jar.
(Optional) Adding food coloring to each jar makes it easier to see the different water levels. You can use the same color in each jar or use a rainbow of colors like we did.
Use the same metal spoon to tap on the jars again. Listen carefully so you can hear how the sounds have changed.
Reader Interactions
November 15, 2021 at 1:48 pm
I think because different levels of water makes different sounds because I think the more water makes it lower.
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To demonstrate how different pitched sounds are made.
Additional information
Pitch is one of the three primary auditory attributes of sound, along with loudness and timbre. It represents the perceived natural frequency (also called fundamental frequency) of sound and can be perceived differently by different people. It's also affected by the amplitude of the sound, especially at lower frequencies where a low note will sound lower in pitch when it's played at a louder level.
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Required materials.
5 to 8 identical glass bottles. These could be thin jars, beakers, or even empty glass soda bottles.
A spoon, fork, or butter knife
Estimated Experiment Time
Less than 5 minutes to set-up, as much time as you want to make music!
Step-By-Step Procedure
1. Place the bottles in a straight line, about 2 to 4 inches apart from each other.
2. Fill the bottles one-by-one until the water level is staggered. For example, fill the first bottle with a small amount of water. Fill the second bottle with more water than the first bottle. Fill the third bottle with more water than the second bottle, and so forth and so on until all of your bottles have a varying amount of water. when your done the first bottle should have the least amount of water and the last bottle the most.
3. Take your spoon, fork, or knife, and strike the tops of each bottle one after the other and listen to the different pitches.
4. Strike the bottles in any order to make music.
The pitch created is dependant not only on the amount of water, but the size and type of bottle being used. It's important to use the same types of bottle for the best musical result. If you want to make a musical scale, place the bottles in order from the one that makes the lowest sound to the one that makes the highest sound (you may need to remove or add water to some of the bottles).
Observation
Can you play a tune on your musical bottles, such as "Mary Had a Little Lamb?". Hit the bottles with your fork and listen to the pitch from each one. Try to associate it to the notes of "Mary Had a Little Lamb" to the pitch of the bottles. You can even label your bottles from 1 to 5 or 1 to 8 (depending on the number of bottles you used) and use tape to mark the water levels. This way you can your notes (the bottle numbers) down on paper and perform the same musical concert each time you conduct the experiment!
The more water in the bottle, the lower the pitch will be when played. This is because the sound vibrations you can hear come from the actual bottle, as you add water it takes on greater vibrating mass. The less water that's in the bottle means there is less weight that vibrates and the pitch is higher.
Take a moment to visit our table of Periodic Elements page where you can get an in-depth view of all the elements, complete with the industry first side-by-side element comparisons!
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Pop Bottle Music
Making sounds by blowing air and tapping the glass.
Print this Experiment
A popular Las Vegas musical act uses tubes, bottles, trash cans, and other common items to make some very cool and distinctive sounds. This just proves that banging on pots and pans can lead to a very successful music career. Try your hand at making your own instruments using just a few household items.
Experiment Videos
Here's What You'll Need
8 glass soda bottles (all of the bottles must be the same), let's try it.
Fill one bottle full with water and leave a second bottle empty. Use the back of the spoon to gently clink both bottles. How are the sounds different?
Fill a third bottle half full with water. Clink all three bottles. The sound of the half- full bottle is about in the middle of the other two sounds.
Blow air across the tops of all three bottles. What do you notice?
How Does It Work
The science of sound is all about vibrations. When you hit the bottle with the spoon, the glass vibrates, and it’s these vibrations that ultimately make the sound. You discovered that tapping an empty bottle produced a higher-pitched sound than tapping a bottle full of water did. Adding water to the bottle dampens the vibrations created by striking the glass with a spoon. The less water in the bottle, the faster the glass vibrates and the higher the pitch. The more water you add to the bottle, the slower the glass vibrates, creating a lower pitch.
The same bottle that makes a low-pitched sound when you tap it with a spoon makes a high-pitched sound when you blow across the top. The same bottle produces opposite sounds! When you blow into the bottle, you are making the air vibrate, not the glass. An empty bottle produces a lower pitch because there’s lots of air in the bottle to vibrate. Adding water to the bottle decreases the amount of air space, which means there is less air to vibrate. With less air, the vibrations happen more quickly and produce a higher pitch.
Take It Further
By varying the amounts of water in each bottle, it’s possible to create a musical scale. That’s why this activity calls for eight bottles, one for each note of the musical scale. Try it with clinking the bottles and with blowing over the tops of the bottles. What differences do you notice? If you want to really put on a show, use food coloring to color the water in each bottle differently. Of course, the food coloring does nothing to affect the sound, but it does make it look like you really know what you’re doing! The ultimate goal is to play a song . . . and then to get people to drop a few bucks into your hat. See, this book is already making you money.
Invite some friends over and present them with this challenge: in 60 seconds, arrange the bottles in such a way that when they are clinked with the spoon, they play a familiar song. Try “Jingle Bells,” “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” or “Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony”—the song is up to you. The first person to arrange the bottles correctly and play the song wins.
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How to Make a Water Bottle Xylophone? 6 Easy Steps
Creating a water bottle xylophone is an engaging and educational DIY project that you can enjoy with your kids. The primary materials required include a set of identical glass or plastic bottles, water, food coloring (optional), and a spoon or mallet for striking.
The principle behind a water bottle xylophone is the manipulation of sound wavelength through the varying water levels in each bottle.
As the amount of water in the bottle increases, the sound created by striking the bottle becomes lower because the water slows the vibration of the sound waves.
Constructing a water bottle xylophone is an enjoyable way to explore the wonders of sound and music.
It is scientifically intriguing as it demonstrates how sound waves function and how they can be modified.
Plus, it’s a colorful and hands-on learning activity that prompts creativity and auditory discernment.
6 Steps to Make a Water Bottle Xylophone
Step Number
Instructions
Materials Needed
1
Collect 8 empty water bottles.
8 Empty water bottles
2
Clean the water bottles thoroughly.
Water, dish soap
3
Fill each bottle with a different amount of water. The first should have the least amount of water and the last should have the most. Each increase should be gradual.
Water
4
Check the sounds of the bottles. Tap lightly on the bottles with a stick or pen. Each bottle should produce a different sound.
Stick or pen
5
Arrange the bottles in order from least to most water.
None
6
Play your water bottle xylophone! Tap the bottles with the stick or pen to make music.
Stick or pen
Table of Contents
Key Takeaway
Facts About Making a Water Bottle Xylophone
Materials and tools.
Making a musical instrument out of water bottles? !
It might sound unconventional, but a water bottle xylophone is not only a fun diy project but also a great way to teach kids about sound and music.
In this section, we will list all the materials and tools you’ll need to create your very own water bottle xylophone.
To create a water bottle xylophone, you will need a mix of common household items and a few specialized tools.
Here’s everything you’ll need:
Water bottles: Grab a selection of empty plastic water bottles. Make sure to use bottles of different sizes to produce different musical pitches.
Water: Fill each bottle with a specific amount of water to adjust the pitch. Experiment with different water levels to find the perfect sound.
A wooden base: Use a solid wooden board as the base for your xylophone. This will provide stability and enhance the resonance of the instrument.
A saw: This specialized tool will come in handy to cut the wooden board to the desired size. Make sure to exercise caution and take necessary safety precautions.
Sandpaper: Smooth out any rough edges on the wooden board using sandpaper. This will prevent any splinters and give the base a polished look.
Pitch pipe or tuner: To ensure accuracy in tuning, use a pitch pipe or tuner. These tools will help you achieve precise notes for each water bottle.
Marker or paint: Color code the water bottles by marking or painting them. This will not only make the xylophone visually appealing but also help with identifying the notes.
Mallets or drumsticks: Use mallets or drumsticks to strike the bottles and produce sounds. You can either purchase these from a music store or make your own using dowels and soft materials like felt.
Now that you have all the necessary materials and tools, you’re ready to start building your water bottle xylophone.
In the next section, we will guide you through the step-by-step process of assembling the instrument. So, let’s get started and embark on this musical journey together!
Step-By-Step Guide To Making A Water Bottle Xylophone
Step 1: preparing the water bottles.
Before you can start making your water bottle xylophone, you need to prepare the bottles.
Here’s how:
Empty and clean the water bottles to ensure there is no residue or liquid left inside.
Remove any labels and adhesive residue from the bottles. You can use warm soapy water or rubbing alcohol to remove stubborn residue.
Step 2: Tuning The Bottles
Creating different pitches on your water bottle xylophone is all about adjusting the amount of water in each bottle.
Here’s what you need to do:
Understand the concept of pitch, which refers to how high or low a sound is. The more water in the bottle, the lower the pitch will be.
Fill the bottles with different amounts of water to achieve the desired notes. Start with a little water and gradually increase it to find the right pitch. You can use a measuring cup or a dropper to add water slowly.
Step 3: Construction Of The Xylophone Base
Building a sturdy base for your water bottle xylophone is important for stability.
Here are the steps you should follow:
Decide on the measurements or guidelines for creating the base. You can use wood, cardboard, or any other suitable material.
Cut the base according to your measurements and make sure it is wide enough to accommodate all the water bottles. The length should be determined by the number of bottles you plan to use.
Step 4: Attaching The Bottles To The Base
Now that you have your base ready, it’s time to attach the water bottles securely.
Follow these steps:
Use adhesive or another suitable method to attach the bottles to the base. Make sure they are firmly in place and won’t move when played.
Arrange the bottles in a logical order to create a musical scale. You can follow the order of a chromatic scale or any other sequence that suits your preference.
Step 5: Fine-Tuning And Experimentation
To get the best sound quality from your water bottle xylophone, you can make some adjustments and experiment with different elements.
Here’s what you can do:
Fine-tune the water levels in each bottle by adding or removing small amounts of water until you achieve optimal sound quality.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different bottle sizes, shapes, or even materials. Each variation can produce unique sounds and add more versatility to your xylophone.
Remember, making a water bottle xylophone is all about having fun and exploring the possibilities. Enjoy the process of creating music from simple everyday objects!
Playing Techniques And Musical Activities
If you’ve successfully built your water bottle xylophone, now it’s time to explore the various playing techniques and musical activities you can engage in to fully enjoy your instrument.
Whether you’re striking the bottles with mallets or using your fingers, there are endless possibilities for creating beautiful melodies and original compositions.
Additionally, incorporating the water bottle xylophone in group activities or educational settings can create a fun and interactive learning experience. Let’s dive in!
Explain Basic Playing Techniques For The Water Bottle Xylophone, Such As Striking The Bottles With Mallets Or Fingers:
Use mallets: Gently strike the bottles with mallets to produce clear and distinct notes. Experiment with different mallet materials, such as rubber or wood, to explore different tones and sound qualities.
Try finger techniques: For a softer and more delicate touch, use your fingers to tap the bottles. This technique allows for more control and precision in creating melodies.
Practice dynamics: Vary the intensity of your strikes to play with dynamics. Strike the bottles with more force for louder sound, and with less force for softer sound. By mastering dynamic control, you can add depth and emotion to your musical creations.
Explore different areas: Experiment with striking different areas of the bottle to produce different sounds. Try striking near the bottle’s neck or closer to the bottom to discover new tonal possibilities.
Suggest Musical Activities To Enhance The Learning And Enjoyment Of The Instrument, Such As Playing Simple Melodies Or Creating Original Compositions:
Play simple melodies: Start by playing well-known tunes or nursery rhymes on your water bottle xylophone. This helps you develop a sense of rhythm and coordination while having fun. You can find sheet music or tutorials online to guide you as you learn new melodies.
Create original compositions: Unleash your creativity by composing your own melodies and tunes. Experiment with different note sequences and rhythms to craft unique compositions. Don’t worry about being perfect – the joy is in the process of exploration and creation.
Collaborate with others: Invite friends, family, or other musicians to join in and create music together. Jamming with others on the water bottle xylophone can lead to unexpected harmonies and beautiful musical moments. It’s a great way to bond and explore different musical styles.
Record your performances: Setting up a recording device allows you to capture and listen to your musical journey. Not only does this help you track your progress, but it also gives you the opportunity to share your music with others and receive valuable feedback.
Include Tips For Incorporating The Water Bottle Xylophone Into Group Activities Or Educational Settings:
Arrange ensemble performances: Gather a group of water bottle xylophone players and create a musical ensemble. Each player can focus on playing specific parts of a song, collaborating to form a cohesive piece. This teaches teamwork, listening skills, and coordination.
Introduce sound exploration exercises: Incorporate activities where participants can explore the different sounds and tones the water bottle xylophone can produce. Encourage them to experiment with striking techniques, dynamics, and different areas of the bottles. This fosters creativity and understanding of the instrument.
Integrate music lessons: Incorporate the water bottle xylophone into music lessons or educational settings. It can serve as an introduction to basic musical concepts such as rhythm, melody, and harmony. The instrument’s affordability and accessibility make it a great tool for teaching children about music.
Organize interactive workshops: Conduct workshops where participants can learn to build their own water bottle xylophones. This hands-on experience not only encourages creativity and problem-solving skills but also instills a sense of achievement and ownership in the participants.
So, go ahead and explore the playing techniques, engage in musical activities, and incorporate the water bottle xylophone into group settings or educational environments.
Unleash your creativity, enjoy the melodies, and inspire others with this unique and charming instrument. Happy playing!
FAQ About How To Make A Water Bottle Xylophone
How do you make a water bottle xylophone.
To make a water bottle xylophone, gather empty bottles, fill them with different levels of water, and tap them to produce different pitches.
What Materials Do I Need To Make A Water Bottle Xylophone?
To make a water bottle xylophone, you’ll need empty bottles, water, a mallet or a spoon, and some creativity.
Can I Use Any Kind Of Bottles For A Water Bottle Xylophone?
Yes, you can use different types and sizes of bottles, such as plastic or glass, as long as they produce different pitches when filled with water.
Is It Difficult To Make A Water Bottle Xylophone?
No, making a water bottle xylophone is a fun and easy diy project that anyone can try with just a few basic materials.
What Are Some Tips For Playing A Water Bottle Xylophone?
Experiment with different water levels to produce different pitches, and use a mallet or a spoon to tap the bottles gently to create beautiful melodies.
Creating a water bottle xylophone is a simple and enjoyable diy project that allows you to explore your musical creativity with everyday items.
By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you can easily transform empty water bottles into musical instruments that produce beautiful notes.
Not only is this a fun activity for kids and adults alike, but it also promotes recycling and repurposing.
Remember to experiment with different amounts of water to achieve desired tones and to customize the xylophone to your liking.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced musician, this diy project provides a great opportunity to unleash your inner composer and have hours of musical fun.
So why not gather your materials and start creating your very own water bottle xylophone today?
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Gilla:
Dela:
Glass bottles and drinking glasses
Plastic wrap
Short explanation
Long explanation, test and improve.
How does the sound change if you replace the "drumstick" with something else?
How does the sound change if you use something with thin glass, such as a fine wine glass?
How does the sound change if you replace the water with something else?
How does the sound change if you place the glasses and bottles on top of a hollow box (preferably in wood)?
How does the sound change if you remove the plastic wrap?
Gilla:
Dela:
String telephone
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Enjoy our range of fun science experiments for kids that feature awesome hands-on projects and activities that help bring the exciting world of science to life.
Have you ever tried making music with glasses or bottles filled with water? I bet you favourite band hasn't. Experiment with your own special sounds by turning glasses of water into instruments, make some cool music and find out how it works.
Each of the glasses will have a different tone when hit with the pencil, the glass with the most water will have the lowest tone while the glass with the least water will have the highest. Small vibrations are made when you hit the glass, this creates sound waves which travel through the water. More water means slower vibrations and a deeper tone.
Hands on kids activities for hands on moms. Focusing on kids activities perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.
Kids’ Science Experiment to Make Music with Water
Science Toddlers Kindergartners Preschoolers Experiment Music Water Activities 5 Comments
Learn how to make music with water in this super simple classic science experiment from Rachel.
All you need for this classic science experiment is a few matching glasses, a spoon and water. It doesn’t get much simpler than that!
Check out these other super easy set-up activities !
I don’t know about you, but I remember doing this experiment when I was a kid, both at home and in school. It is a really fun and easy way to explore the science of sound !
How to Make Music with Water
It’s honestly super simple. Grab a few glasses.
Make sure they are the roughly the same size. It makes everything work a little better.
Now, fill the glasses with different amounts of water. You could get super accurate here and measure the water if you want to try to create specific notes/pitches.
I just filled a pitcher and had Hannah help me pour a little in one, more in the next, etc.
Last, I gave Hannah a spoon and showed her how to tap it on the glass. If you have a really young child or a very enthusiastic one, I would use a plastic spoon to minimize the risk of breakage.
I knew Hannah would be fine, so we just used a metal cereal spoon.
Make Music with Water Science:
Tapping the spoon on the glass creates a vibration sending a sound wave through the water in the glass. Each glass makes a different sound because the sound wave travels at different speeds through the water.
The speed of the sound wave depends on the amount of water in the glass.
The glass with the most water makes the lowest sound because the sound waves travel the slowest. The glass with the least water makes the highest sound because the sound waves travel the fastest.
An older child might be really interested in a simple explanation of sound waves and how they work.
For Hannah, we compared the sounds each glass made and the amount of water in each glass. I knew she wouldn’t understand what a “high” or “low” sound was, so I called the low sound “big” and the high sound “little.”
Not scientifically accurate, but much more in her realm of understanding.
What Happened When We Made Music with Water
We went through the experiment several times, tapping each glass, looking at the amounts of water, and comparing.
She was able to see the connection between the amount of water and the sounds pretty quickly. The glass with lots of water made a big sound, and the glass with a little water made a little sound.
After that, she went to town! I showed her how to tap the glasses randomly (up until now we were tapping them in order) to make music with water.
She took over and played her glasses for much longer than I expected.
At this point, if you do your research and measure your water accurately, you can play actual songs.
We were going for the exploration, so I didn’t worry about this, but older kids especially might love learning to play a song they know.
It’s been a long time since we did any experiments in our house. This reminded me how much the kids and I both love them!
We will definitely be turning the kitchen into a lab again soon.
What activity from your childhood have you done with your kids?
About Rachel
Rachel is a stay at home mom to three girls who keep her on her toes. She loves coffee, books and doing activities with her kids, especially art and sensory activities. Follow Rachel on Pinterest !
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X is for Bottle Xylophone
April 24, 2015 By Emma Vanstone 1 Comment
A bottle xylophone is one of those super simple science activities everyone should try at least once. All you need is some bottles, water and something to bang the bottles with.
We started the process with a bit of measuring, using 10ml in the first bottle, 20ml in the second and so on.
Can you hear the difference in sound? Is the pitch different? Which bottle gives the note with the highest pitch?
What is pitch?
Pitch is the degree of highness or lowness of a tone.
Conditions to test
Can you try different sized bottles?
Different amounts of water?
What happens if you have a bigger difference in the amount of water in each bottle?
How about using metal spoon and a wooden spoon to bang the bottles? Can you hear a difference?
This post is part of the A to Z Science Series with Frogs, Snails and Puppy Dogs Tails . Do check out the other posts for lots more great science activities.
Big thanks to Red Ted Art for the X idea, I was a bit stuck!
Last Updated on April 27, 2015 by Emma Vanstone
Safety Notice
Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.
These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.
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VanCleave's Science Fun
Your Guide to Science Projects, Fun Experiments, and Science Research
Sound: Water Bottles
By Janice VanCleave
In the diagram, the open bottles are all the same, but there is a different amount of water in each. Tapping the bottles with a metal spoon produces a sound.
Sound is a form of wave energy that moves outward from the vibrating bottles.
Pitch is how high or low the sound is.
Pitch is determined by the frequency of a sound.
In the diagram below:
The frequency of Sound Wave A is less than the frequency of Sound Wave B. (This is determined by the number of waves in the same time period.)
The pitch of Sound Wave A is less than the pitch of Sound Wave B. (This is determined by the frequency of each sound.)
Discover For Yourself
Use the same kind of bottles, such as empty glass soda bottles. Fill the bottles with different amounts of water. Using a metal spoon, tap the each bottle and compare the pitch of the sounds produced.
Just for Fun!
Try to tune the bottles by adding and subtracting water from the bottles so they can be used to produce notes of a song, such as “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” You can color code the the water for specific notes. Since water evaporates, add a drop of cooking oil to each bottle. It will form a thin layer across the water’s surface preventing evaporation. If the drop of oil changes the pitch of the sound, use a long eye dropper to remove just enough water to fine tune the bottle.
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Water Xylophone Experiment
Science truly surrounds us even in the sounds we hear! This water xylophone experiment is truly a must do science activity for young kids. So simple to set up, it’s kitchen science at it’s finest with plenty of room to explore and be playful with it. Try this easy sound waves experiment with water in glass jars for a hands-on science project for kids.
Explore Sounds Waves With Water
Have you ever heard of the phrase kitchen science? Ever wondered what it means? It’s probably pretty easy to guess, but I will share anyway! Let’s show our kids how cool it is to play with science.
Read more below on how you can extend this sound science experiment, add in the scientific process, and create your own sound waves science experiment.
Kitchen science is science that can come out of the kitchen supplies you have! Easy to do, easy to set up, inexpensive, and perfect science for young kids. Set it up on your counter and go!
For several pretty obvious reasons, a homemade water xylophone experiment is the perfect kitchen science! All you need is mason jars {or other glasses}, food coloring, water, and set up chopsticks or even a spoon or butter knife to explore sound.
ALSO CHECK OUT: 30 Water Experiments For Kids
Did you ever wonder how to make science easy enough to do at home or with a larger group of kids, this is it! We love sharing the simplest of ideas to get you started and comfortable with sharing science with your kids.
What Is The Scientific Method For Kids?
The scientific method is a process or method of research. A problem is identified, information about the problem is gathered, a hypothesis or question is formulated from the information, and the hypothesis is tested with an experiment to prove or disprove its validity.
Sounds heavy… What in the world does that mean?!? It means you don’t need to try and solve the world’s biggest science questions! The scientific method is all about studying and learning things right around you.
As children develop practices that involve creating, gathering data evaluating, analyzing, and communicating, they can apply these critical thinking skills to any situation.
READ MORE HERE: Using The Scientific Method with Kids
Note: The use of the best Science and Engineering Practices is also relevant to the topic of using the scientific method. Read more here and see if it fits your science planning needs.
Helpful Science Resources To Get You Started
Here are a few resources that will help you introduce science more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident yourself when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.
Best Science Practices (as it relates to the scientific method)
Science Vocabulary
8 Science Books for Kids
All About Scientists
Science Supplies List
Science Tools for Kids
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How Does A Water Xylophone Work
When you tap the empty jars or glasses, they all made the same sound. Adding different amounts of water changes the noise, sound, or pitch.
What do you notice about the amounts of water versus the sound or pitch that is created? The more water, the lower the pitch! The less water, the higher the pitch!
Sound waves are vibrations that travel through the medium which in this case is water! When you change the amount of water in the jars or glasses, you also change the sound waves!
Make sure to have your kids tap the empty jars first to get an idea of the starting sound! Have them predict what will happen when they add water. They can also create a hypothesis to explain what happens when more or less water is added. Read more here on the scientific process for young kids .
Food coloring (we used blue, yellow and green for varying shades of green)
Wooden sticks (we used bamboo skewers)
4+ mason jars
Instructions:
STEP 1. Fill the jars with varying levels of water. You can eyeball the amounts or grab the measuring cups and get a little more scientific with your exploration.
STEP 2. Add food coloring to make different colors for each note. More water equals lower sound or pitch and less water equals a higher sound or pitch. We made our jars pure green, dark green, blue-green, and yellow-green!
Things To Try With Your Water Glass Xylophone
Does tapping the sides of the jars make a purer sound than tapping the tops of the jars?
Try adjusting the water levels to create new sounds.
Try using different liquids and compare results. Different liquids have different densities and the sound waves will travel differently through them. Fill two jars the same amount but with two different liquids and observe the differences!
Try using different tools for tapping the glasses. Can you tell the difference between the wood chopstick and a metal butter knife?
If you want to get super fancy, you can use a tuning app to raise or lower the water level to match specific notes. We tested out this on e a little bit although we are not music experts over here, it’s a fun way to take the experiment a step farther for older kids.
More Fun Ways To Explore Water Science
What dissolves in water?
Can water walk?
How do leaves drink water?
Great skittles and water experiment: Why don’t the colors mix?
What materials absorb water
How does water refract light?
Printable Science Projects For Kids
If you’re looking to grab all of our printable science projects in one convenient place plus exclusive worksheets and bonuses like a STEAM Project pack, our Science Project Pack is what you need! Over 300+ Pages!
90+ classic science activities with journal pages, supply lists, set up and process, and science information. NEW! Activity-specific observation pages!
Best science practices posters and our original science method process folders for extra alternatives!
Be a Collector activities pack introduces kids to the world of making collections through the eyes of a scientist. What will they collect first?
Know the Words Science vocabulary pack includes flashcards, crosswords, and word searches that illuminate keywords in the experiments!
My science journal writing prompts explore what it means to be a scientist!!
Bonus STEAM Project Pack: Art meets science with doable projects!
Bonus Quick Grab Packs for Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry, and Physics
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