Task 2

The second task is to explore how the generated sound spreads in the environment. Pupils observe wristwatch ticking or alarm clocks using a desk or a long ruler. The teacher shall indicate the situation in which the pupils are to ascertain the distance from which the alarm clocks begin to tick if they have an ear attached to an object (table, board, ruler) on which the clock is not attached. It is the task of the pupils to find out whether they are ticking the clock from the same or different distance. At the same time, the teacher encourages pupils to make interpretations. The investigation should show that the air is getting worse through the air because the clock is less distant than the table, board or ruler.

The task also includes a subtask in which the pupils‘ task is to determine whether different pupils are able to hear ticking watches from the same distance or from different distances. Alternatively, it is possible to test one and the other ear and conclude whether both our ears perceive sounds as good.

In particular, this task develops pupils‘ precise work in research, namely the development of competence to measure. In order to develop competence, the teacher must emphasize a truly precise measurement of the distance from which pupils can hear the watches. For example, it encourages pupils keeping his / her eyes closed while trying to observe the sound of watches while other schoolmate tries to move them in small pieces toward the observer. Repeated measurement is very important in this case, so there are two columns in the table for task 2b for the distance the pupil hears from. If there are large differences between the two measured values for the same pupil and the same ear, the observation should be repeated until the result can be trusted. It is also important to create appropriate conditions for exploration. The object on which the watch is stored must not touch the classmates during the observation, there should be adequate (still the same) silence and the like in the classroom. After obtaining the results, pupils try to draw a conclusion based on the data in the table.