Experiment Disclaimer

Coathanger Gong

Instructions

1. Tie the strings to the corners of the coathanger.

2. Hold the string in your hands so the coathanger dangles downward.

3. Gently knock the coathanger on a hard surface - is the sound loud or soft?

4. Wrap your fingers around each string and place your fingers in your ears.

5. Repeat the experiment with your fingers in your ear. Does the sound get louder or softer? Why?

Back to light and sound experiments

You will need:

- 1 Coathanger

- 2 Pieces of 30cm String

Sound is produced by vibrations.
Vibrations travel faster through solids than they do through liquids or gases.
This is the reason why earthquakes can be detected hundreds of kilometres from their source.
Find out how seismographs are used to detect earthquake vibrations at Geoscience Australia

Knocking the coathanger against the surface makes the coathanger vibrate.
The vibrations travelled faster to your ear through the vibrating strings because they are solid.
For more on the science of sound check out the external link at the
Canada Science and Technology Museum.

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