Manufacturing Musical Instruments

Design Brief: To design and make a whistle.

Context: Sound waves are set in motion by vibrations or rapid movement. Sound also travels through liquids and solids. Place your ear on one end of your desk and lightly tap your fingers on the other end. Now lift your ear and tap lightly again. The sound was louder when your ear was on the desk because sound travels better (and sometimes faster) through other substances than it does through air.

Possible Solutions: List as many solutions to the problem outlined in the context. Ensure that your solutions are strong and fully developed.

Design Considerations: List all of the things you had to consider for this project. Ensure that your design considerations are strong and fully developed.

Detail Design: Obtain a drinking straw from Mr. Ferguson and hold one end of it up to your lower lip. Blow across the top of the straw, keeping your lips as close together as you can. Now, cover the bottom end of the straw with your finger. What happens to the tone? The tone is now a full octave lower (an octave is a difference of eight notes). Listen to the tone as you remove and replace you finger on the bottom of the straw. Now cut 2” off the end of the straw. What happens to the tone? If you place your finger on the bottom of the straw, you will change the tone by a full octave again. Finally, tape a second straw to the first. What happens to the tone? Does it change an octave when you cover up the bottom again?

Materials: 2 straws, scissors, tape.

Commissioning: Were you successful in this project when you tried it out?

Evaluation: Did this project work as you expected it to?

Reflection: Did you enjoy this project? What were you most proud of? What would you do differently next time?