Acoustics in buildings

What you'll learn

1. 1

   Sound bounces off hard walls like a ball — that's called 'reflection'. In a big empty hall, the sound echoes!

2. 2

   What happens when sound hits a hard wall?

3. 3

   Here's a room with hard walls. The sound waves (→) bounce around — that's an echo. Soft materials like carpet soak up the sound instead.

4. 4

   Let's compare two rooms — one with tiles, one with curtains.

5. 5

   Drag the materials onto the walls to make this room quieter. Which one soaks up sound?

6. 6

   Which material is best for stopping echoes in a classroom?

7. 7

   In a concert hall, why might you want some hard surfaces?