Lesson 4 of 8 · Waves
Experiment⭐ 30 XPAmplitude, Intensity and Energy
Amplitude, Intensity and Energy.
🎯 Your mission
Predict it first. Then prove yourself right (or wrong).
⚡ The twist
Nature loves to surprise the careful watcher.
Mind = Blown
🔬 The more you look, the more nature shows you.
Make a hypothesis first
Before you start: write down what you think will happen, and why.
What You'll Learn
Amplitude is the maximum displacement from rest. The energy a wave carries goes with amplitude squared, so doubling the amplitude of a sound quadruples its energy — but our ears perceive loudness roughly logarithmically, which is why decibels are used.
Key Words
Tap a word to see its definition.
Materials Needed
- phone with oscilloscope app
- musical instrument or speaker
Safety First
- Keep the volume moderate — prolonged loud sound damages hearing.
Steps
Read the explanation above and note the two key terms before you start.
Record the same note played softly and loudly using a phone oscilloscope app. Measure both amplitudes on screen and compare the ratio with the decibel change the app reports.
Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.
Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 2Doubling a wave's amplitude changes the energy it carries by a factor of:
Where you see this in real life
This shows up in your everyday life more than you'd think.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Try one experiment in real life this week — even a tiny one.
For the dinner table
“What's the most surprising thing you learned today?”
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Amplitude, Intensity and Energy
Predict it first. Then prove yourself right (or wrong).
Full screen — no distractions
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