Ever wonder how a sound from over there makes it over here to your ear? And why is it an eardrum?
What you need:
- Plastic wrap
- Bowl
- Rice
- Spoon
- Pot
What you do:
- Stretch a piece of plastic wrap really tightly over a bowl.
- Put a small spoonful of rice on top of the plastic wrap.
- Bang a spoon on a pot a few inches away from the rice.
- Watch the rice jump on the “drum”.
Why it works
The “drum” you just made is very similar to how your ear hears vibrations of noise traveling through the air. Inside your ear, there is a thin, tight piece of skin across the opening that vibrates every time sound moves through. You can feel it stretching sometimes when riding in an elevator or an airplane.
