Question

Take two plastic glasses and tie a thread between them to make a toy phone. Does the voice of your friend reach you through the thread? Take metal wire instead of the thread and also change the length of thread/wire and repeat the activity. Discuss with your friends and teacher about. Your conclusions.

Answer 1

Steps to Perform the Activity:

1. Create the Toy Phone:

   • Punch a small hole at the center of the bottom of each plastic glass.
   • Insert one end of the thread through the hole in one glass and tie a knot inside to secure it.
   • Repeat this with the other end of the thread and the second glass.
   • Ensure the thread is taut when stretched between the two glasses.

2. Test with Thread:

   • One person speaks into one glass while the other listens through the second glass.
   • Observe if the voice is transmitted.

3. Test with Metal Wire:

   • Replace the thread with a metal wire and repeat the activity.

4. Vary the Length:

   • Try using threads/wires of different lengths (e.g., 1 meter, 2 meters, 5 meters).
   • Check if the sound transmission is affected.

Observations and Conclusions:

1. Does the Voice Travel Through the Thread/Wire?

   • Yes, the voice travels through both the thread and the wire, but the quality and clarity may differ.

2. Effect of Material:

   • Thread: The sound is transmitted, but it may not be very clear because threads are less rigid and vibrate more, dissipating energy.
   • Metal Wire: The sound is clearer because the metal wire transmits vibrations more effectively due to its rigidity and better sound conduction properties.

3. Effect of Length:

   • Shorter lengths transmit sound better because there is less energy loss along the medium.
   • Longer lengths may reduce sound clarity as vibrations lose energy over distance.