Science Secrets · Drawing 16 of 40
Music in the Glasses
Light and Sound
These identical glasses hold different amounts of water. When gently tapped, they vibrate and make different sounds. More water usually gives a lower note.
Did you know?
Blow across a bottle instead, and it’s the opposite: more water gives a higher note.
Look together
Which glass should make the lowest note?
An idea to try
An adult sets up identical sturdy glasses with different water amounts. The adult gently taps them while the child compares sounds.
For the adult reading along
A little more to discover
When a glass is tapped, water changes the glass-water system’s vibrations. Blowing across a bottle mainly excites the air and reverses the relationship between water amount and pitch.
Sources and illustration notes (1)
Simplified scene and shapes. Models, imagined comparisons and enlargements do not preserve all real measurements.
These links lead to other websites. Explore them with an adult. References identify the institution and the related lesson; some linked pages are in French.
- Science World: Musical BottlesTapping a glass of water makes the water vibrate; more water means slower vibrations and a deeper tone. Blowing across a bottle makes the air vibrate, so more water then gives a higher pitch.
Page prepared on October 12, 2026. Illustrations are simplified for colouring.
This drawing is from the book Science Secrets to Colour
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