Last night, my husband’s graduating class got together at their high school football game as part of their 20 year reunion activities. The reunion committee also organized current high school students to lead a tour of their new facilities, as they have just completed extensive renovations and additions to the school. Our boys thought it was neat to see some of the classrooms, etc., in a high school, but Zeke specifically asked what were the big padded looking things on the walls of the band room (the acoustic panels). We took just a moment to remind him about sound waves--he new they bounced off of things. However, he didn't put two & two together to come up with echoes when the sound waves bounce off of large flat, hard surfaces. We explained that the panels help to break up the sound waves hitting the wall, cutting down the echoes which would keep the band from being able to accurately hear their music.

Today, I took a minute to search for a little more information to expand our explanation. I found this great slideshow complete with diagrams to help him “see” how sound waves work. The whole slideshow presents some good information about sound waves--not just echoes. Take a look for yourself: