For our Build a Band project, we had to create multiple instruments to create a band. We were required to make at least three instruments, including a wind instrument, a strings instrument, and a chime instrument. We learned many aspects of the science behind instruments, such as waves and the effects that the materials have on the waves. For our group, we created a two string violin, a chime set, a make-shift drum set, and a trombone. Our violin was made by a Japanese box, a piece of plywood, and some violin strings. Our chime set was created by a series of aluminium pipes with the same diameter but cut with different lengths. Our drum set was made with different materials to mimic sounds from a drum set. Our trombone was made of PVC piping.
There is a lot of science behind music. Most of it include waves, which are separated into two groups: longitudinal waves and transverse waves. Longitudinal waves are waves whose motion is in the same direction as its displacement, and requires a medium. An example would be sound. Transverse waves are waves whose motion is perpendicular to its displacement, and does not require a medium. An example of this would be like light. There are many concepts in waves, such as wave speed, wave length, frequency, period, and amplitude. Wave speed is the rate at which a wave travels. This is measured in meters per second, and uses the equation velocity equals wave length times frequency. Wave length is the distance between crest and crest of a wave. It is measured on meters, and uses the equation wave length equals velocity divided by frequency. Frequency is how often waves are arriving. Frequency is measured in waves per second (Hertz) and uses the equation frequency equals velocity divided by wave length. Time period is how long a wave lasts second per wave. This is measured in seconds, and uses the equation time equals 1 divided by frequency. Amplitude is the height of the wave. This is the table for the notes to Hertz that I used to find the string lengths for my violin:
Note, Hz, Wave length (cm)
C4 261.63 131.87
C#4/Db4 277.18 124.47
D4 293.66 117.48
D#4/Eb4 311.13 110.89
E4 329.63 104.66
F4 349.23 98.79
F#4/Gb4 369.99 93.24
G4 392.00 88.01
G#4/Ab4 415.30 83.07
A4 440.00 78.41
A#4/Bb4 466.16 74.01
B4 493.88 69.85
C5 523.25 65.93
The materials of the instruments creates different kinds of sounds and pitches. Thinner wood/ materials will create a more hollow / higher sound, where thicker materials will create a deeper / lower sound.
This is our proof of efficacy document:
There is a lot of science behind music. Most of it include waves, which are separated into two groups: longitudinal waves and transverse waves. Longitudinal waves are waves whose motion is in the same direction as its displacement, and requires a medium. An example would be sound. Transverse waves are waves whose motion is perpendicular to its displacement, and does not require a medium. An example of this would be like light. There are many concepts in waves, such as wave speed, wave length, frequency, period, and amplitude. Wave speed is the rate at which a wave travels. This is measured in meters per second, and uses the equation velocity equals wave length times frequency. Wave length is the distance between crest and crest of a wave. It is measured on meters, and uses the equation wave length equals velocity divided by frequency. Frequency is how often waves are arriving. Frequency is measured in waves per second (Hertz) and uses the equation frequency equals velocity divided by wave length. Time period is how long a wave lasts second per wave. This is measured in seconds, and uses the equation time equals 1 divided by frequency. Amplitude is the height of the wave. This is the table for the notes to Hertz that I used to find the string lengths for my violin:
Note, Hz, Wave length (cm)
C4 261.63 131.87
C#4/Db4 277.18 124.47
D4 293.66 117.48
D#4/Eb4 311.13 110.89
E4 329.63 104.66
F4 349.23 98.79
F#4/Gb4 369.99 93.24
G4 392.00 88.01
G#4/Ab4 415.30 83.07
A4 440.00 78.41
A#4/Bb4 466.16 74.01
B4 493.88 69.85
C5 523.25 65.93
The materials of the instruments creates different kinds of sounds and pitches. Thinner wood/ materials will create a more hollow / higher sound, where thicker materials will create a deeper / lower sound.
This is our proof of efficacy document:
For my reflection, I can't say a lot for me as a group member, since my group did a lot of their instruments individually. However, I think I did well staying on task, since I've had a problem with it in the past, and was able to find solutions on my own and ask for help when it was needed. My leadership in the group could have been improved in the times that we made group decisions, like how our document was going to be formatted or the types of instruments were to be built.