How is Sound Produced?
Materials in the box
1. Powder free rubber or latex glove
2. Sturdy tube (cardboard or plastic)
3. Piece of a straw 8 cm - 10 cm (3” - 4”) in length
4. Rubber band
Gloves and rubber bands contain Natural Rubber Latex which may cause allergic reactions.
Materials from your house
1. Scissors
2. Masking tape
3. Tubes of different diameters or lengths (Optional)
How do I begin?
1. Cut a small hole in the end of the pointer finger of the glove.
2. Insert the straw through the hole from the inside of the glove, leaving about 2.5 cm (1”) inside the glove.
3. Tape the straw and glove intersection, making an airtight seal. Ensure that the straw is firmly connected to the glove. Place the wrist of the glove over the tube.
4. Use the rubber band to secure the glove to the tube and wrap it several times as needed.
5. Gently pull out the straw and glove from inside the tube.
6. Hold the tube vertically in front of you with one hand. Gently pulling the straw with the other hand. Pull and angle the glove so the palm area covers the tube opening completely and makes a tight seal against the round end of the tube. Create a smooth, tight membrane with no wrinkles.
7. Blow through the straw to inflate the glove – a loud honking noise will result.
8. If there is difficulty inflating the glove does not inflate, smooth out any wrinkles and pull the glove more tightly over the opening. If the glove inflates but there is still no sound, adjust the angle between the tube and the glove. After some practice, anyone can play this instrument!
What just happened?
The part of the glove covering the tube opening forms a membrane similar to the covering of a drum. As the fingers of the glove are inflated, the pressure causes the membrane to vibrate. For a given size tube, there will be certain frequencies that resonate, or build, within the tube producing a specific sound.
This is an interesting instrument because it works like a combination of a drum and a flute. The frequency (pitch) of the sound coming from tube is affected by two main factors: the diameter and the length of the tube. A larger diameter tube will allow a larger area of the rubber glove to vibrate. The larger area of rubber will vibrate slowly, and create a low pitch.
When a tube with a small diameter is used, the area of rubber that is vibrating is smaller, and vibrates more quickly. This creates a higher pitch. The length of the tube also has an effect. If two tubes are made with the same diameter and different lengths, the longer tube will create a slightly lower pitch.
Exploring Further
1. Try using tubes of different lengths and diameters.
2. Vary how hard you blow and listen for changes in the sound.
3. Touch the portion of the glove stretched over the tube opening to alter its tension.
4. Make finger holes in the tube and cover/uncover them to change the sound.
1. Powder free rubber or latex glove
2. Sturdy tube (cardboard or plastic)
3. Piece of a straw 8 cm - 10 cm (3” - 4”) in length
4. Rubber band
Gloves and rubber bands contain Natural Rubber Latex which may cause allergic reactions.
Materials from your house
1. Scissors
2. Masking tape
3. Tubes of different diameters or lengths (Optional)
How do I begin?
1. Cut a small hole in the end of the pointer finger of the glove.
2. Insert the straw through the hole from the inside of the glove, leaving about 2.5 cm (1”) inside the glove.
3. Tape the straw and glove intersection, making an airtight seal. Ensure that the straw is firmly connected to the glove. Place the wrist of the glove over the tube.
4. Use the rubber band to secure the glove to the tube and wrap it several times as needed.
5. Gently pull out the straw and glove from inside the tube.
6. Hold the tube vertically in front of you with one hand. Gently pulling the straw with the other hand. Pull and angle the glove so the palm area covers the tube opening completely and makes a tight seal against the round end of the tube. Create a smooth, tight membrane with no wrinkles.
7. Blow through the straw to inflate the glove – a loud honking noise will result.
8. If there is difficulty inflating the glove does not inflate, smooth out any wrinkles and pull the glove more tightly over the opening. If the glove inflates but there is still no sound, adjust the angle between the tube and the glove. After some practice, anyone can play this instrument!
What just happened?
The part of the glove covering the tube opening forms a membrane similar to the covering of a drum. As the fingers of the glove are inflated, the pressure causes the membrane to vibrate. For a given size tube, there will be certain frequencies that resonate, or build, within the tube producing a specific sound.
This is an interesting instrument because it works like a combination of a drum and a flute. The frequency (pitch) of the sound coming from tube is affected by two main factors: the diameter and the length of the tube. A larger diameter tube will allow a larger area of the rubber glove to vibrate. The larger area of rubber will vibrate slowly, and create a low pitch.
When a tube with a small diameter is used, the area of rubber that is vibrating is smaller, and vibrates more quickly. This creates a higher pitch. The length of the tube also has an effect. If two tubes are made with the same diameter and different lengths, the longer tube will create a slightly lower pitch.
Exploring Further
1. Try using tubes of different lengths and diameters.
2. Vary how hard you blow and listen for changes in the sound.
3. Touch the portion of the glove stretched over the tube opening to alter its tension.
4. Make finger holes in the tube and cover/uncover them to change the sound.