Question

Spread some sawdust or mustard seeds or sand on the diaphragm of a tabla. Knock on the diaphragm lightly with a finger.

• What do you see happening so long as the tabla makes a sound? What happens when the sound stops?
• What do we understand from these observations?

Answer 1

• When the diaphragm of the tabla is struck lightly with a finger, it starts vibrating. The sawdust, mustard seeds or sand placed on it also begin to move or jump because of these vibrations.
• As long as the tabla produces sound, the diaphragm continues to vibrate and the particles on it keep moving. When the sound stops, the vibrations of the diaphragm also stop, and the particles become still. From these observations, we understand that sound is produced by vibrating objects. When the vibrations stop, the sound also stops.