Hooked on Science: Straw instrument

Have you ever wanted to make a musical instrument? All you need is a pair of scissors and a straw.

Materials

* Plastic drinking straw

* Scissors

Instructions

STEP 1: Flatten one end of the straw.

STEP 2: Using the scissors, cut a triangle into the flattened end of the straw.

STEP 3: Put the cut end of the straw in your mouth and blow.

Explanation

Sound is a form of energy transmitted by an object vibrating. As you blow into the straw you create vibrations. This back-and-forth motion travels through the air and is heard as sound.

Jason Lindsey is a science outreach educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website www.hookedonscience.org for webcasts and experiments that might get you hooked on science. Send him your science questions at jlindseyhookedonscience.com.