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Science lesson plan · 7th grade (Year 8 in England) · 45 minutes

How sound travels through solids, liquids and gases

Light, sound and waves

CCSS NGSS.MS-PS4-2England: KS3 Physics: Waves (sound)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: How sound travels through solids, liquids and gases.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Sound comes from vibrations; The particle model

Leads to: Transverse and longitudinal waves

Materials: Slinky or rope, Mirrors and torches, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Sound comes from vibrations; The particle model). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. How does sound reach your ears? (Sound travels as light / Your ears pull the sound in / It does not need to travel / Vibrations travel through the air to your ears) → Vibrations travel through the air to your earsPrompt: Sound needs something to travel through.
  2. Which state is described: particles packed in a regular pattern? (solid / liquid / gas) → solidPrompt: How close are the particles, and how do they move?
  3. Sound: which statement is true? (Sound cannot travel through water. / Sounds get fainter as you move further from the source. / Loud sounds do not involve vibrations. / Sound travels through space between planets.) → Sounds get fainter as you move further from the source.Prompt: Can sound travel where there is nothing at all?

Hook · 5 min

  • Ask the class to make a wave with a rope or slinky and describe what moves and what doesn't.
  • Share the objective: How sound travels through solids, liquids and gases. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Why does sound travel faster in steel than in air?
  • Step 1: Sound travels at about 340 m/s in air, 1500 m/s in water and over 5000 m/s in steel.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: Particles in solids are close together and strongly linked, so vibrations pass on quickly
  • Answer: Particles in solids are close together and strongly linked, so vibrations pass on quickly
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. In which direction do air particles vibrate when a sound wave passes? (they do not move / up and down, at right angles to the wave / backwards and forwards, parallel to the direction the sound travels / in circles) → backwards and forwards, parallel to the direction the sound travelsPrompt: Sound is a longitudinal wave.
  2. Sound travels at about 1500 m/s in water. How far does it travel in 4 s, in m? → 6000 mPrompt: distance = speed × time

You do: independent practice · 10 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Sound travels at about 5000 m/s in steel. How far does it travel in 3 s, in m? → 15000 mPrompt: distance = speed × time
  2. How sound travels: which statement is NOT true? (Whales can communicate over long distances underwater. / Sound waves are longitudinal. / Sound travels fastest in gases. / Sound travels faster in water than in air.) → Sound travels fastest in gases.Prompt: Why do we see lightning before we hear thunder?

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Sound comes from vibrations.
  • Use concrete materials: slinky or rope.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Transverse and longitudinal waves.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-7.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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How sound travels through solids, liquids and gases

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Sound travels at about 5000 m/s in steel. How far does it travel in 2 s, in m?

    Answerm

  2. Question 2

    How sound travels: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. Sound cannot travel through a vacuum.
    • B. In a sound wave, air particles travel all the way from the source to your ear.
    • C. Sound waves are longitudinal.
    • D. Sound travels faster in water than in air.

  3. Question 3

    Astronauts on a spacewalk talk by radio. Why can't they just shout?

    • A. Radio waves are a type of sound
    • B. Their voices are too quiet
    • C. Space is too cold for sound
    • D. Space is a near vacuum, so sound cannot travel between them

  4. Question 4

    Sound travels at about 1500 m/s in water. How far does it travel in 3 s, in m?

    Answerm

  5. Question 5

    In which direction do air particles vibrate when a sound wave passes?

    • A. up and down, at right angles to the wave
    • B. backwards and forwards, parallel to the direction the sound travels
    • C. in circles
    • D. they do not move

  6. Question 6

    Sound travels at about 1500 m/s in water. How far does it travel in 0.5 s, in m?

    Answerm

  7. Question 7

    Sound travels at about 5000 m/s in steel. How far does it travel in 3 s, in m?

    Answerm

  8. Question 8

    Sound travels at about 5000 m/s in steel. How far does it travel in 4 s, in m?

    Answerm

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Answer key: How sound travels through solids, liquids and gases

  1. 1. 10000 m

  2. 2. B. In a sound wave, air particles travel all the way from the source to your ear.

  3. 3. D. Space is a near vacuum, so sound cannot travel between them

  4. 4. 4500 m

  5. 5. B. backwards and forwards, parallel to the direction the sound travels

  6. 6. 750 m

  7. 7. 15000 m

  8. 8. 20000 m