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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. When you speak, what vibrates to make the sound? (your eyes / your hair / your vocal cords in your throat / your teeth) → your vocal cords in your throatPrompt: Put your fingers on your throat and hum.
  2. Which state is described: particles far apart moving quickly in all directions? (solid / liquid / gas) → gasPrompt: How close are the particles, and how do they move?
  3. Sound: which statement is true? (Loud sounds do not involve vibrations. / Sound cannot travel through water. / Sound travels through space between planets. / Sounds are made by vibrations.) → Sounds are made by vibrations.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. Astronauts on a spacewalk talk by radio. Why can't they just shout? (Space is a near vacuum, so sound cannot travel between them / Radio waves are a type of sound / Space is too cold for sound / Their voices are too quiet) → Space is a near vacuum, so sound cannot travel between themPrompt: Radio waves are electromagnetic waves.
  2. Sound travels at about 340 m/s in air. How far does it travel in 4 s, in m? → 1360 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. How sound travels: which statement is NOT true? (In a sound wave, air particles travel all the way from the source to your ear. / Whales can communicate over long distances underwater. / Sound travels faster in water than in air. / Sound cannot travel through a vacuum.) → In a sound wave, air particles travel all the way from the source to your ear.Prompt: Why do we see lightning before we hear thunder?
  2. Sound travels at about 1500 m/s in water. How far does it travel in 0.5 s, in m? → 750 mPrompt: distance = speed × time

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 340 m/s in air. How far does it travel in 4 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

    Why does sound travel faster in steel than in air?

    • A. Particles in solids are close together and strongly linked, so vibrations pass on quickly
    • B. Steel is shiny
    • C. Air has no particles
    • D. Sound is magnetic

  4. Question 4

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

    Answerm

  5. Question 5

    An alarm clock rings inside a jar. As the air is pumped out, the ringing gets quieter. Why?

    • A. Sound needs particles to travel through, and there are fewer left
    • B. The clock stops ringing
    • C. Glass absorbs all sound
    • D. Air makes sound quieter

  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

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

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

  8. Question 8

    Sound travels at about 1500 m/s in water. 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. 1360 m

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

  3. 3. A. Particles in solids are close together and strongly linked, so vibrations pass on quickly

  4. 4. 15000 m

  5. 5. A. Sound needs particles to travel through, and there are fewer left

  6. 6. 750 m

  7. 7. C. Space is a near vacuum, so sound cannot travel between them

  8. 8. 6000 m