Make a guitar
The guitar is one of the most popular instruments around the world, and different cultures have different variations. The Russian version called is the balalaika. In India it's called the sitar, and in Polynesia it's known as a ukulele. Even though the designs are somewhat different, all the versions make music the same way: by plucking or strumming strings, which creates sound vibrations. Try it for yourself!
Step 1
If the tissue box opening still has plastic around the edges, remove the plastic using the scissors. (If you don’t have a tissue box, you can just cut a hole in the top of a shoebox.)
Step 2
Hold the box so that the hole faces you and stand it up on the narrow end of the box. Place the paper towel tube on top of the box, so that it stands vertically. Trace the base of the paper towel tube with your marker. Put the paper towel tube to the side for now, and use scissors to cut along the traced line. This will make a circle cutout.
Step 3
Insert the paper towel tube in the hole in the side of the tissue box. Use the tape to secure it tightly in place. Decorate your guitar to show off your rock star personality!
Step 4
Wrap four rubber bands around the box the long way, making sure they cover the hole on the front of the box. Use rubber bands of different widths to create different tones and sounds. Now strum your new guitar like a rock star!
What's going on?
When you pluck a rubber band on the guitar, you cause it to vibrate. The vibration travels through the rubber band and across the surface of the box and into the hole. The open area inside the box increases the amount of matter that is vibrating, causing the sound to be amplified.
Think about it
Try plucking a rubber band held between your fingers. How loud is the sound of the rubber band suspended in air compared to the rubber bands attached to the box?
PHOTOGRAPHS BY MATTHEW RAKOLA
ADAPTED FROM THE NAT GEO KIDS BOOK MAKE THIS! BY ELLA SCHWARTZ