Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

My topic is: What is the effect of different sound insulating materials on the sound level coming from the inside of a wooden box?
I have to do research on this topic and my teacher recommended my class to ask an expert no sciencebuddies.com. Here are some questions. Please try to answer most of them.

1. Please give information about sound, sound waves, sound level, or the travel of sound.

2. Please give information about wood and how it is related to sound and how much sound it can block.

3. Please give information about insulation - specifically: fiberglass insulation, acoustic insulation, and foam insulation. These are the types I will be testing.

4. Please give information about any other things that you know about my topic.

5. Do you think this topic is interesting, useful, or important? If so, why?

6. When did you first study or learn about physics and this topic?

7. How can knowlegde about physics and my topic be applied to everyday life?


Please try to answer most, if not all, of my questions. Also please answer with as much detail as you can. Please try to give me your answers really soon, because I have a deadline of next monday, and I still have to do the notetaking on the information you give me. Thank you for your time and help.

Could you also, at the end of your answer, write that you are an expert with at least one year of experience or college with physics, and you give me permission to cite your name as a reference and you give permission for me to include the facts you gave me as part of my report? And then could you write your name too? My teacher is requiring it. Thanks!

Dear gwengirl777,

Sorry, but science buddies experts are not supposed to do someone's homework or project for them. We are here to provide guidance, so that you will be able to solve your questions by yourself, and aid in troubleshooting. I can lead you in the right direction of answering these questions by yourself: I would suggest reading books and/or internet webpages (you can use search engines like google) to gain information on sound. You could probably use a school physics textbook as well. The topic you are studying could be very interesting and you should take the opportunity to read about it. If you have any troubleshooting problems where you are really unable to solve a question then please post it on science buddies and we will lead you in the right direction or answer your question. let me know if you have any more questions about your topic or science buddies.

good luck,
scienceexpert123

Hi,

Please see Science Buddies' policy on interviews, here: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/mentorin ... =26&t=4488 . An expert may help you, but if they choose to do so they will not be able to give you their contact information.

Good luck!

Hello gwengirl777,

Your chosen topic seems too broad. If you could narrow it down and then identify a specific purpose for it, then you can actually draw up a list of experts that you can interview. There are many practical purposes why scientists study how materials can affect sound - for insulating windows, for constructing noise barriers, and for designing residential condos.

So if you focus on one of these practical purposes, you can find an expert or several experts to interview. For example, if you are interested in noise barriers that are constructed between residential areas and highways, you can interview engineers or people who have been involved in such projects and ask them which materials they have utilized and why.

Then you can consult books or research the web for explanations why material X is better than material Y in blocking or absorbing sound waves. You will then encounter, study, and be able to explain concepts such as reverberation, resonance, reflection, and sound damping.

Good luck.