Build a Band

Our process:

This whole project was probably only a week or two since school got shut down. Although it was short, we learned a lot and were able to accomplish quite a few things during this time. We started off by learning about waves and everything that has to do with them. Then we moved onto the project part and we began by choosing our instruments in the group. It was either a string, wind, or chime instrument. I got wind so I decided to make a pan flute. Then the next step was to find the measurements that I had to make each pipe in order to create a specific note. We had to have 8 different notes, so I had 8 different pipes on my pan flute. After we found the measurements we were supposed to make a detailed blueprint on how we were going to make our instrument. So when we went up to the maker space the next day, I was completely ready to start building. I got pretty far the first day, so before I knew it I was already done with my instrument. Since I finished early I got to help out my group and that's where this project ended. Then everything happened at home and we had to write our song on FaceTime since there was no more school. It was still a veryyy fun project while it lasted and I loved my group!

Content:

• Frequency: the number of vibrations or waves per second. the equation is f = v/𝝺 and it is measured in Hertz (Hz)
• Wavelength: the distance from crest to crest of one wave (or compression to compression). the equation for wavelength is 𝝺 = v/f and it's measured in meters (m)
• Wave speed: this is how fast a wave travels (velocity). it's equation is v = 𝝺f and it's measured in meters/second (m/s)
• Period: the amount of time for one wave (or per vibration cycle). the equation for this is T = 1/f and it is measured in seconds (s)
• Amplitude: the height of a wave from the midline to the crest. there is no equation for amplitude, but it is measured in meters (m)
• Transverse wave: this is when particle motion is perpendicular to the direction of the wave motion. both longitudinal and transverse waves are models of how energy is transferred. no medium is required for transverse waves and they are found in an electromagnetic spectrum. light is also a transverse wave
• Longitudinal wave: this is when particles compress and rarify as energy moves along (parallel to wave motion). it is a model of how energy is transferred and it does require a medium. sound also travels in longitudinal waves
• Electromagnetic spectrum: it is the range of wavelengths or frequencies of electromagnetic radiation extending from gamma rays to the longest radio waves and it even includes visible light

Reflection:

This project seemed like it was going to be so fun! First of all, we were in the maker space for almost a week and that automatically makes a project awesome. Sadly, we weren't able to finish the whole task because of a worldwide pandemic causing our school to close for the rest of the year. This really bummed me out and I miss every class, student, and teacher so much. One of my favorite classes this year was STEM, so the fact that we didn't get to finish the whole year made me very upset. I was also very upset how we didn't get to finish this project. But for the limited time that we got to work on this, I did pretty well in a few of the 6 C's. One topic I excelled in this time was conscientious learning. I am always so bad at time management, but somehow I was able to work very fast during this project. I think it's because I had planned out everything I needed to do and made a detailed blueprint that I just had to follow. I got my instrument done really early and was able to help my other partners during the days where we were still up in the maker space. And that brings me to my next C. I also did good with collaboration. Because two of us finished before our maker space time was up, we got to use the rest of the time to help our other group member out with her instrument. We were able to come together and work on it with her to get it done faster.

But of course during every project, there are always things that I don't do very well in. In this one I happened to do pretty bad in the critical thinking category. I believe this is because I just ask too many questions without actually thinking about it first. Some of them seem to be very self-explanatory if I were to just put a little effort in trying to figure it out myself. And I was even worse at this when school got closed because then I had no one to ask questions to. Like when we were doing work at home for this project, my critical thinking skills were so bad since I couldn't think by myself. So I definitely need to work on critically thinking more. Another C I needed to work on during this project would have to be communication. We talked a lot, but it wasn't really about the project. I could have communicated with them more about the questions I had, but instead I just asked other people. So I can still work on that part of communication for sure. But all in all, it's a big bummer how we didn't get to finish this project. I was really looking forward to it! :(