Science Experiment: Paper Funnel

Science experiment:

Question: What will happen to the sound if I change the shape of a piece of paper? (e.g. from a flat shape to a funnel shape)

Links to research about Sound:

http://www.thetech.org/exhibits/online/robotzoo/guide/bats_and_echoes.html

Hypothesis: (What do you think will happen?) e.g. I think that…the sound will get fuzzier

Materials needed:

tissue-paper-tape

Experiment (procedure):

e.g. Step 1 - First hold a flat piece of paper against your ear. Block your other ear with your hand. Get your partner to speak to you. What is the sound like? Can you hear clearly?

Step 2 - Next, roll the piece of paper into a funnel shape. Put the funnel against your ear. Face the funnel towards your partner and listen to them speak. What does it sound like? Can you hear clearly?

Step 3 - Next, face the funnel to the side while your partner speaks to you. Does it make a difference to the sound that you can hear?

Step 4 - Put some cotton balls or tissue paper into the funnel to block one end. Does it make a difference to the sound you hear?

Step 5 - Next, roll the piece of paper up and l

Data (What happened?)

	Shape/object/materials	Results:
1	flat piece of paper	the quality sounded the same as before
2	funnel facing to the front	the sound was much louder
3	funnel facing to the side	The sound wasn’t clear it sounded blurry
4	cotton ball or tissue  blocking the narrow end of the funnel	It had more echo than before. The sound didn’t sound very clear.
5	rolled up piece of paper (facing to the front)	you can hear your partner clearly
6	rolled up piece of paper (facing to the side)	couldn’t hear partner very much at all

Observations:

When I used a flat piece of paper the quality still sounded the same but is was focusing to one side. When I rolled the paper into a funnel  facing the front my partner spoke, the sound was much louder than before and was focusing on his voice. This time I faced the funnel to the side but the sound felt fuzzy and blurry. When I added a Piece of tissue it was like a echoey sound instead of a clear sound. When I rolled up a piece of paper facing the front it kind of sound the same as before. As I was facing the rolled up paper to the side It sounded like a dizzy kind of tone.    

Conclusion:

What I've learnt was a paper funnel facing to the front was clearer than the funnel facing to the side. With a paper funnel or something else like that is very handy it can make your voice a lot louder.