Can you make a paper cup sound like a duck? Try this fun, hands-on physics experiment to explore how friction and vibrations create sound.
What You Need:
A paper cup, water, 16 inches of cotton string, a small cup, a paper clip, a paper towel, and a pencil.
What You Do:
Step 1 – Use the pencil tip to poke a small hole in the bottom of the paper cup.
Step 2 – Tie one end of the string to the paper clip.
Step 3 – Push the free end of the string through the hole, and pull it through the inside of the cup until the paper clip rests flat against the outside base of the cup.
Step 4 – Fill the small cup with water. Fold a small piece of paper towel and dip it in the water.
Step 5 – Hold the paper cup upside down. Make sure the paper clip is flat against the base (now at the top), with the string dangling upside down. Reach inside the cup and press the damp paper towel around the string, while holding it between your thumb and index finger. Pull downward on the string in short tugs. Listen closely. Does your cup sound like a duck?
Mad Science of Austin is a leading science enrichment provider, delivering unique, hands-on science experiences for kids through after-school programs, birthday parties, workshops, special events, and summer camps.
