Chladni - Fiona
Activity Details
Type: Science & Art Experiment
Duration: 20 minutes
Purpose: To investigate the work of the scientist Ernst Chladni and to replicate his experiment showing the movement of sound.
Background: Ernst Chladni, an 18th century German scientist and musician, was a pioneer in the field of acoustics, the science of sound. In a famous experiment, he showed how moving a violin bow against a metal plate covered with sand could visually display the movement of sound. The sand concentrated in areas where the plate was not vibrating. Through this work, Chladni concluded that sound travels in waves. He was the first scientist to clearly demonstrate this connection.
PLEASE NOTE: This experiment involves high pitched sounds for a continuous period. If you or your child is sensitive to this please factor in whether or not this program is appropriate for you.