Brian Cox school experiments: What factors affect the pitch and the volume of a sound?

The Brian Cox school experiments are designed to support teachers to carry out experimental science in the classroom, and relate it to real world experiences. Each written resource is accompanied by four videos; two with extra information on how to carry out the experiment and two on how the experiment relates to the real world. These create a flexible package for teachers, with something for everyone.

In this experiment, students build instruments out of every day equipment, including elastic bands and pots, twanging rulers and beans in pots. They change the length and width of elastic bands and the length of the ruler to see what difference that makes to the sounds.

The written resource was produced by the Ogden Trust.

Real world video: Brian Cox visits a composer to find out how pitch and volume can affect our emotions.

Research science video: Bruce, an acoustic researcher, has developed a device that can levitate small objects using sound.