* Full Lesson* Physics: Sound and Energy Transfers

This is the second lesson in a unit of work on sound. This lesson is aimed towards KS3 classes but could easily be adapted for other levels. The main aim of the lesson is to introduce pupils to the speed of sound and explain why the speed of sound is different in solids, liquids and gases.

For a bundle of all five lessons in this unit, click here.

• Part of this lesson requires a vacuum chamber with a sound maker in it to demonstrate sound’s inability to travel through a vacuum. A video has been included as an alternative task to this.

During this lesson pupils will:

• Estimate the speed of sound in air.
• Share their own knowledge of sound during discussion.
• Recap transverse and longitudinal waves and suggest the types of media they can move through.
• Watch vacuum chamber demo to show sound cannot travel through a vacuum.
• Use the particle model of states of matter to explain why sound travels fastest through solids and slowest through gas.
• Make a string telephone and complete analysis of the activity.
• Complete consolidation questions.
• Use the speed equation to calculate the speed of sound in different situations (higher ability.)

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