Metals ring

The idea

Sonority is the property of metals that enables them to produce a ringing sound, as when dropped, so metals are sonorous; coal and wood produce dull sounds.

Listen!

Drop a metal spoon on a stone floor and you hear a clear ring. Now think of dropping a lump of coal or a piece of wood.

What sound do you think a piece of wood makes when it is dropped?

• A ringing sound, like a spoon
• A dull sound
• No sound at all

Drop and listen

Drop each thing on the stone floor. First guess the sound, then listen (your sound should be on).

Sonorous

Sonority is the property of metals that enables them to produce a ringing sound, as when dropped. So metals are sonorous. Coal and wood produce dull sounds.

• Thing | Sound when dropped | So it is
• Metal spoon, metal coin | ringing | sonorous
• Coal, wood | dull | not sonorous

Notes

Sonority: metals make a ringing sound when dropped. Coal and wood make dull sounds.

Check yourself

A metal is said to be sonorous because it...

Which of these makes a ringing sound when dropped?

A steel bowl, a wooden bowl and a lump of coal are dropped one by one. Which one rings?

Coal and wood, when dropped, produce...

• produces a ringing sound — correct. Yes! That is sonority.
• can be drawn into wires. That is ductility.
• can be beaten into sheets. That is malleability.
• A lump of coal. Coal makes a dull sound.
• A metal coin — correct. Yes! Metals are sonorous.
• A piece of wood. Wood makes a dull sound.
• The wooden bowl. Wood gives a dull sound.
• The lump of coal. Coal gives a dull sound.
• The steel bowl — correct. Yes! Steel is a metal, and metals ring.
• dull sounds — correct. Yes! They are not sonorous.
• ringing sounds. Only metals ring like this.
• musical notes. They only thud.