Help wanted! Urgent

[vctenderness]

I know this is not actually aircraft related but....

My daughter is a student teacher and she has to devise a lesson for primary school children about sound.


I know you professionals out there know all about sound proofing of aircraft cabins.


So the question is why do certain materials muffle sound more effectively than others?


What is the best material to muffle sound and why?


Please remember the Answer needs to be understood by small children (and me).


Thank you in advance.

[MX Trainer]

vctenderness

Soundproofing in general is divided into 2 different ways - passive and active.

Aircraft soundproofing is a bit different than general soundproofing but a lot of it works for both.

I would suggest since this is for the Kiddies that she use a noisy band in the basement that is driving the parents nuts!! And remember kids of today are pretty smart!!

Here are some links that can explain things better than I can and they should give her some interesting things to use for the lesson. Also really good for refreshing all us oldies too!!

Sound Traps - Noise Controling Acoustic Panels (http://www.drumperfect.com/super_traps.htm)

Sound Absorption | Megasorber 4-Fold Approach for soundproofing (http://www.megasorber.com/4fold-approach/sound-absorption.html)

Sound absorption - Paroc.com (http://www.paroc.com/knowhow/sound/sound-absorption)

http://retaildesignblog.net/2012/10/30/loop-sound-absorbing-panel-by-anne-kyyro-quinn/

Sound Absorbing Material - A Quick Guide (http://mixonline.com/online_extras/sound_absorbing_materials/)


I don't think she will want to get into active - also referred to as active noise reduction systems but Wiki has a pretty good description that is not too long winded.

Active noise control - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_noise_control)

Hope this helps a bit - I have trouble teaching some of this to adults let alone attempting to do it with young uns!!!

Good luck to her.

Mx

[NutLoose]

This will help, same principle

HowStuffWorks "Insulation" (http://science.howstuffworks.com/dictionary/chemistry-terms/insulation-info.htm)

There is also insulation that stops skins drumming and producing noise as the aircraft shakes and vibrates, imagine a drum as you beat it, then put your hand on the drum, it kills the noise, that's what some thick materials do, they also have a thick type paint/ paste as well on light stuff that is painted on the inside of the skins, you could demo that with a drum or sheet of paper then stick a sheet of card on and show how it stiffens up and won't flex.

Some aircraft use white noise, the Saab 340 I think does, this is played in the cabin and is the opposite of the noise the engine and props make so cancels it out.

[vctenderness]

Thank you so much for really helpful replies. I am sure she will be able to devise a suitable lesson from those links.