Legal Brief — Musical Ratios: Pre‑unit Check (Age 13)
Legal Brief — Musical Ratios: Pre‑unit Check (Age 13) Cue / Questions | Notes 1. Why different objects sound different? Because objects vibrate at different frequencies depending on size, shape, tension and material. 2. What do ratios describe? They describe relationships between two quantities. 3. What does a musical ratio describe? The frequency relationship between two notes (interval). 4. What is 2:1 called? An octave. 5. Early mathematician and tool? Pythagoras; he used the monochord. 6. Describe the monochord. A single string over a resonant box with a movable bridge to change sounding length; used to measure pitch ratios. Assessment (Proficient): Student identifies causes of timbre, explains ratios, names octave, cites Pythagoras and sketches monochord. Diagram: Sketch below — draw box, string, tuning peg, fixed bridge, movable bridge, scale markings. Whereas sound and numbers strut together (briefly, flirtatiously), the student demonstrates patterned listening — clear, confident, legally noted, charmingly precise. Case closed, Ally.
Diagram space — draw and label
Resonant box (soundboard) +---------------------------------+ | | | Tuning peg String Fixed bridge | | (left) o====/========\_____o | | movable bridge ^ | +---------------------------------+ ^ ^ ^ tuning peg fixed bridge movable bridge (string runs left to right; movable bridge slides to change sounding length)