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How far can a whisper travel?

Sound, Vibration, & Engineering
4.7 (13602 reviews)
Lesson narration:
English Spanish
Scroll for prep
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DISCUSS (1 of 2): Put your hand over your throat and make some sound. What do you notice?

DISCUSS (2 of 2): What do you think sound is?

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DISCUSS: What kind of experiments could we do to figure out more about what sound is?

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Paper cup telegraph — Our Ideas

We gave one idea away in the title! The telegraph invented by Samuel Morse uses Morse code to communicate with two sounds — dots and dashes. Can you make two sounds that your friend can tell apart through the long string? If you can, you can communicate with Morse code. Learn more about Morse code here.

Here’s another idea. You can communicate using a tap code, like this one. Using this code, a pattern of taps can be translated into letters.

Slide Image

vibration


1 of 5

a quick movement back and forth
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sound


2 of 5

vibrations that you can usually hear with your ears
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echo


3 of 5

a sound that bounces off a surface and travels back to someone's ears
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experiment


4 of 5

a test used to discover new information about a question
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Slide Image

model


5 of 5

a pretend version of something that scientists use when the real thing is too big, small, or complicated to work with

Image & Video Credits

Mystery Science respects the intellectual property rights of the owners of visual assets. We make every effort to use images and videos under appropriate licenses from the owner or by reaching out to the owner to get explicit permission. If you are the owner of a visual and believe we are using it without permission, please contact us—we will reply promptly and make things right.

Exploration
unit: siblings whispering by wong sze yuen
echo "hello" by © Jojikiba , used under CC BY-SA
graffiti tunnel by jmiller291 , used under CC BY-SA
"awesome echo" by Emma Koi
boy yelling in forest by Zurijeta
Zac by Ric Moxley
grand canyon at sunrise by sumikophoto
Zac's echo in the grand canyon by Ric Moxley
group of friends by aslysun
two people whispering by sezer66
slo mo drum by The Chernett Family
Speaker Vibrations affect Objects by BluePigProductions: Eric van der Aar
cups vibrating from speakers by ReggieErf
Activity
graphic pencil by JohannPoufPouf , used under Public Domain
kitten by Okssi
seagull by CocoParisienne , used under Public Domain
two differently sized cups by Maistrenko Ihor
Credits
How far can a whisper travel?
Sound, Vibration, & Engineering
4.7 (13602 reviews)

Featured Reviews

“This was wonderful! The class was teachable in a 45 minute period and students had the hands-on opportunity to understand vibrations! I appreciate that the materials are easily gotten at a dollar store and around the school. Now that's my kind of science lesson. The children were astounded, which really surprised me. I guess i've forgotten what it was like not to know these things. They were thrilled with thte discovery of vibrations. I think next time, I'll start with a one minute recording of the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations" ;) Thanks to the MS team.!! You folks rock it! ”
· Yvonne · Teacher
“The sound videos. It was fun making the telephone. I could hear the voices. Sound vibrations echos playing instruments dropping the ping pong ball crating sound by rubbing my hands together. ”
· Diane · Teacher
“It was everything. The teacher materials prepared me to teach and assess the lesson. The required materials for the mystery were easy to gather and prepare. The video clearly explained each step and had great questions. The students loved the activity and learned the concept. When I told them that I plan to use this curriculum for the remainder of the year they all cheered!”
· Patty · Admin
“The paper cup phones are a GREAT way to "deliver the message" to the students that sound/vibrations DO travel. They loved the activity, and I loved how intently they were listening for the whispered number through the cup. It was soooo quiet :) I took pictures and plan to hang them outside the classroom.”
· Jane · Teacher
“The investigation was amazing! The students were able to explain how the paper cup telephone works using science vocabulary. The looks on their faces when they could hear their partner whispering was priceless!”
· Leah · Teacher
“We have been using a different science curriculum for awhile. My son was hesitant to try something new, but was so glad that we did! He loved the engaging and informative videos, and he was so happy making the paper cup telephones. He enjoyed making them so much, we made several types, experimenting with types and length of string and different types of cups. He didn't want the lesson to end!”
· Kelly · Homeschooler
“Having the students experiment trying to design a better phone!”
· Scott · Teacher
“The string phones were so much fun! the kids didn't want to stop at two changes to their phones. They wanted to try changing everything! Thank you so much for putting together great lessons that are so easy and fun.”
· Pamela · Teacher
“The engagement of the students was wonderful, but the best part was their amazement when they started to realize how the sound was truly traveling down the string!!!”
· Elsie · Teacher
“I did this with a Special Education class that has reading and writing issues. They were VERY excited. Even before tying the cups together, they were excited to discover how the cup and string reacted to their voices. The written portion was small enough to not overwhelm them and we could discuss and model appropriate answers.”
· Lynn · Teacher
“Kids loved "improving" their phones. I loved that they learned so much with just their own cup and string.”
· Lorraine · Teacher
“The students enjoyed the activities. They were simple, non expensive, but helped them understand the key ideas.”
· Carol · Teacher
“It was a great way to reinforce what students had learned about sound waves and how they travel.....my 6th graders loved making and using the telephones.”
· Kristine · Teacher
“Kids were 100% engaged! The best!”
· Buffee · Teacher
“Best science curriculum ever!”
· Valerie · Admin
“I love the hands on nature of learning! This is a standard that is not covered well by our third grades so it is great review/ learning since it will be tested in fourth grade.”
· Cindy · Teacher
“The kids really enjoyed experimenting with different ways to improve their telephones. It was fabulous to see the ideas they came up with - including a six way system. I love you guys!”
· Chriss · Teacher
“Students loved the paper cup telephones! They really grasped the concept of sound waves. ”
· Sharissa · Teacher
“The video instructions on how to make the telephone was very useful. Also, the step by step activities for the students helped in making the connection between vibration and sound”
· Sripriya · Teacher
“making the telephones and experimenting with the sounds from the cups.”
· Malinda · Teacher
“The experiment was entertaining and the video in the extras was awesome! My students want to create a "longer" tin can phone this summer! How many feet was the tin can phone in the vimeo? ”
· Cindy · Teacher
“Students loved to make the changes to their telephone. Great to discover how thick string compares to thin string.”
· Sandy · Teacher
“They loved they sound the string made when they rubbed it. ”
· Jade · Teacher
“The example of experiments with the cup and string”
· Kelsey · Teacher
“Middle schoolers wanting to make and take home additional telephones.”
· Joanna · Teacher
“Students loved making the telephone!”
· Andrea · Teacher
“So much fun! The Kids loved it! Thanks again, Mystery Science :) ”
· Aurora · Teacher
Lesson narration:
English Spanish

Activity Prep

Print Prep
In this lesson, students learn about the connection between sounds and vibration. In the activity, Paper Cup Telephone, students make telephones using cups and string. Students then modify the design of their telephones using different types of supplies to see if they can improve the sound quality.
Preview activity

Vocabulary

Vocabulary

Student slideshow: English | Spanish

Teacher printout: English & Spanish

I have a Mystery Pack

Paper Cup Telephone worksheet 1 per student
Paper Cup Telephone Answer Key teacher-only resource 1 per class
Paper Cup Telephone Teacher Tips worksheet 1 per class
Engineering Materials
Students will experiment with different materials for their paper cup telephones. They will need more paper clips and additional items, such as construction paper, different sized cups, yarn, ribbon, or dental floss.
Details
2 items per student
Pencil
1 pencil per student
Coated Paper Clips (#2)
We recommend coated, because they are stronger. You can use any paper clip that is about 1" long, not jumbo paper clips.
Details
1 clip per student
Paper Cups (8 oz)
1 cup per student
String
6 feet per student
Prep Instructions

Each student will first make half of a paper cup telephone. Then, students will pair up to complete their telephones. Homeschool students will need a partner for the activity.

Students will also have the chance to come up with their own experiments with the telephone. The list below shows materials they could use. You can get more materials if you'd like.

  • more paper cups, including larger and smaller cups
  • construction paper that could be used to make a cup larger
  • ribbon, yarn, dental floss, or other kinds of string
  • more of the same string you used before
  • more paper clips

Prepare String

Each student needs a piece of string that is 6 feet in length. Read our Teacher Tips for an easy way to prepare several strings all at once using a yardstick.

Display Engineering Materials

Your students will have the chance to come up with their own experiments with the phone. But before students attempt to modify and improve the design of their telephones, they need to know which materials are available to them. During Step 15 of the experiment, we suggest you show students which of these will be available.

Standards

Jump to

Exploration

10 mins

Hands-On Activity

40 mins

Extend this lesson

Unit Reading

Unit Reading

Alan Turing, Codebreaker

In this reading, students learn how mathematician Alan Turing helped break secret codes during WWII.

Activities

Activities

  • Activity: Secret Bells If you need to be convinced that sound can actually travel through a string, try this activity from San Francisco’s Exploratorium. With a string and a spoon, you can make amazing music that only you can hear.

  • Activity: Going around corners Suppose you have a paper cup telephone that’s working great in the hall, where the string is straight. Then your friend ducks into a room and the string has to go around a corner. The phone stops working! Can you figure out how to get it working again? This is a tough engineering challenge. Think about what changes when you go around a corner. What might be stopping the vibrations from traveling down the string?
    If you want to see solutions that other people have come up with, check this site.

  • Discussion/Activity: Paper cup telegraph Suppose you keep making the string on your paper cup telephone longer and longer. At some distance, you can hear your friend talking — but you can’t tell what they are saying.
    Can you think of a way to send a message when your friend can hear you, but can’t understand the words? Can you use a pattern of sounds to send a message without words?
    If you’d like to see our ideas on how to do this, you’ll find them here.

Mini-lessons

Mini-lessons

You can elaborate student learning and engagement with Mystery Science mini-lessons.

If you are in an NGSS state, this mini-lesson supports the DCI PS4.A: Wave Properties

  • How do phones work? In this mini-lesson, students learn about early communication, how messages were sent in years past, and how telephones work today.

If you are in an NGSS state, this mini-lesson supports the DCI PS4.C: Information Technology and Instrumentation

Transcripts

Credits
 
Waves Lesson 2: How far can a whisper travel?

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