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General Physics Science Fair Project

Singing Glass and Water Pitch

Easy
Singing Glass and Water Pitch | Science Fair Projects | STEM Projects
Can you turn a drinking glass into a musical instrument? You fill a piece of stemware halfway with water. Then you run a wet finger along the rim. The glass vibrates and produces a clear tone. Change the water level and repeat. With less water the pitch shifts one way. With more water it shifts the other. You discover how the water level controls the note.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis is that sound can be produced by vibrations.

Method & Materials

You will fill a stem glass half-way with water, wet your finger with water from the glass, grab on to the base of the glass with the other hand to secure it, and move your wet finger slowly around the rim of the glass.
You will need stemware (all the same size and shape, if possible), water, and food coloring.

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Results

After running your finger around the top of the glass, you'll notice that the glass begins to "sing!" You'll also observe that the glass notes changed when the water level changed. This is because the water level affects the ability of the glass to vibrate, which is what produces the sound.

Why do this project?

This science project is so interesting and unique because it allows you to explore the science behind sound production in a fun and creative way.

Also Consider

Experiment variations to consider include adding food coloring to the water and experimenting with different sizes and shapes of glasses.

Full project details

Additional information and source material for this project are available below.

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