Science · Physical Science

Sound Waves — Reading Comprehension Lesson

Reading comprehension passage and printable worksheet about sound waves, vibrations, and how sound travels for grades 3–6.

Reading Passage

Sound Waves

Sound is a form of energy that travels as waves through matter. When an object vibrates, it causes the particles around it to vibrate as well, creating a wave of compressed and spread-out particles that moves outward in all directions. These are called sound waves.

Sound can travel through solids, liquids, and gases, but it cannot travel through a vacuum — an empty space with no matter. Sound travels faster through solids than liquids, and faster through liquids than gases. In air at room temperature, sound travels at about 767 miles per hour.

The pitch of a sound — how high or low it sounds — is determined by its frequency. Frequency is the number of vibrations per second, measured in hertz (Hz). High-frequency vibrations produce high-pitched sounds, like a whistle. Low-frequency vibrations produce low-pitched sounds, like a bass drum.

The loudness of a sound is called its volume and is measured in decibels (dB). Sounds above 85 decibels can damage hearing over time. Sounds above 120 decibels, like a jet engine up close, can cause immediate pain.

The human ear is an amazing organ that converts sound waves into electrical signals the brain can interpret. Sound waves enter the ear canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate. This vibration passes through tiny bones in the middle ear and into the inner ear, where it is converted into nerve signals that travel to the brain.

Printable Worksheet

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