Photo by V. Miller
Oct. 12, 2005
Blocking Sound
Sound Blockage
Sarah Lane Menezes, 14, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
Finalist, Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, 2005
Category: Physics
The purpose of this project was to find out which material commonly used in windows would best block sound.
In order to do this, a single, constant note was played on an electronic keyboard. The note was then captured by two microphones and recorded and processed in a computer. The first microphone was placed inside a wooden, sound-insulated box and the other was placed outside the box. The sound recorded inside the box was captured when the box was open and when it was closed. The lid was made of different materials (plastic, wood, iron, aluminum, and glass). Each material was tested six times, three times in the form of a solid board and three times in the form of a window shutter.
The results showed that, in the form of a solid board, plastic blocked 87.44% of the sound, aluminum 86.40%, wood 85.41%, iron 83.96%, and glass 83.45%. In the form of a window shutter, wood blocked 79.5%, plastic 58.95%, iron 47.92%, aluminum 45.51%, and glass 45.21%.
The conclusion was that plastic is the best sound insulator, but what really makes a difference is whether the material contains openings, through which sound can travel freely.
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