Pan Pipes

How do pan pipes make sound?

What are pan pipes?

Pan pipes are a musical instrument that harnesses the power of physics, sound waves, and your breath to make music. In Greek mythology, the god of the wilderness Pan was often depicted playing this instrument. In Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, satyrs (like Percy’s best friend Grover) can use the pipes for some wilderness-based magic. As a demigod and not a satyr, I can’t claim the truth of this magic, you’ll have to iris message Demeter to ask about it.

Materials

  • Straws

  • Scissors

  • Tape

  • Ruler

Pan+Pipes+Materials.jpg
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Procedure
In science, we call the steps to carry out an experiment the procedure

Step 1

Read the entire procedure and gather the materials you need (in science, we call the steps to carry out an experiment the PROCEDURE)

Step 2

Using the ruler and scissors, cut straws into the lengths outlined below. Be sure to use the metric side of the ruler (centimeters). 

2nd Grade . . .

  • CCSS.MATH.2.MD.A
  • Was the ruler the best tool to use to measure these lengths? Would it have been better to use a yardstick? Or meter stick? (Answer: No, the ruler was the best tool)
  • Look at your ruler; which is bigger G , an inch or a centimeter? (Answer: an inch)
  • Predict if there are going to be more or less inches than centimeters for the longest straw. Now, try estimating the number of inches the longest straw is.
  • Now, use that your ruler and measure the straws in inches. How many inches was the longest straw? (Answer: 10 cm = 3.9 inches). Was your prediction correct? Was your estimation correct?

5th Grade . . .

  • CCSS.MATH.5.MD.A.1
  • Try looking at the length of the straws in meters first. Can you convert each of these measurements to centimeters so you can measure the length with a ruler?
  • Think about how many centimeters are in a meter. Will you be multiplying or dividing by this number to convert from meters to centimeters?
  • Lengths in meters: 0.1m, 0.09m, 0.08m, 0.075m, 0.065m, 006m, 0.055m, 0.05m
Pan Pipe - Straw Lengths

Step 3

Order the straws from shortest to longest, lining up one edge of the straws in a straight line.


Pan Pipe - Taped Straws

Kindergarten . . .

1st Grade . . .

  • Which straw is the longest? Which is the shortest? How many of the shortest straws equal the length of the longest straw? Can you order the straws from shortest to longest? CCSS.MATH.1.MD.A


Step 4

Tape the straws together and blow over the tops of the pipes.

Pan Pipe - Finished
 

Science Explanations

Kindergarten - 2nd Grade . . .

  • Put your finger near the end of the pipes as you blow on it. What do you notice? What do you feel?
  • When you blow through the straw, you are making the straw vibrate. The vibrations flow through the air and your ear hears it as sound. NGSS 1-PS4-1

3rd Grade - 5th Grade . . .

  • Put your finger on one of the pipes as you blow on it. What do you notice? What do you feel?
  • Sound travels in waves (similar to ocean waves!). Waves are regular patterns of motions. Many waves travel up and down the straw when you blow in.
  • Waves can differ in amplitude and wavelength.
    • The amplitude is the height of the wave from the midline.
    • The wavelength is the distance between two wave peaks.
  • Waves can be added together. This is called interference. There are two types of interference.
    • Constructive interference results in increased amplitude.
    • Destructive interference results in no wave.
  • Waves with just the right wavelength survive and form standing waves. Standing waves appear to not move forward or backwards (they stand still). They only appear to move up and down. These standing waves resonate and produce the notes we hear.
  • Now, as you blow over the tops of your pipes, listen. How does the sound of the longest straw compare to the sound of the shortest straw?
  • The frequency of a wave is how many wavelengths occur per second. If we increase the wavelength, does the frequency increase, decrease, or stay the same? (Answer: The frequency decreases because less wavelengths occur per second)
  • The higher the frequency, the higher the pitch. So, which straw has the highest frequency standing wave? (Answer: The standing waves in the shorter straw have a higher frequency.)
    NGSS 4-PS4-1

Middle School Extension Activity . . .

  • Try repeating this experiment but with a straw of a different diameter. Think about our model of sound waves from above, what does a larger diameter of straw change about the wave?
    NGSS MS-PS4-1
 
1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, KJanice LeePhysics, Music