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Sound from Collisions — Reading Comprehension

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NGSS 4-PS3-3

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This engaging 250-word science passage helps Grade 4-5 students understand how collisions produce sound through energy transfer. Aligned with NGSS standard 4-PS3-3, the passage explains how objects colliding transfer energy to surrounding air molecules, creating vibrations that we hear as sound. Students explore concrete examples like clapping hands, dropping books, and banging drums to understand that louder sounds indicate more energy was transferred during the collision. The passage includes audio integration for enhanced accessibility, a simplified differentiated version for diverse learners, complete Spanish translations of both versions, an interactive glossary with key terms like collision, energy transfer, vibrations, and sound energy, eight multiple-choice comprehension questions testing recall and application, three scaffolded writing prompts with suggested answers, and two graphic organizers in table format. The content uses age-appropriate language and familiar examples to make abstract concepts tangible, helping students connect scientific principles to everyday experiences. Perfect for elementary science instruction, homework assignments, or independent learning.

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girl, young, hair, long, curly, t-shirt, black, beating, the drum, the sticks, young people, group, show, public, the street, urban, holiday, september — When you bang on a drum, the collision between your hand and the drum transfers energy that makes the drum and air vibrate. Image credit Icsilviu / Pixabay.

When two objects bump into each other, they make a sound. This happens because of something called a collision, which is when objects hit or crash together. Collisions are important to understand because they help explain how sounds are created all around us every day.

During a collision, energy moves from the objects to the air nearby. Energy is the ability to make things move or change. When objects collide, some of their energy transfers to the air, which means the energy moves from one place to another. This transferred energy makes tiny particles in the air start moving back and forth very quickly.

These fast back-and-forth movements are called vibrations. The vibrating air particles bump into other air particles next to them, creating a wave of movement that travels through the air. When these vibrations reach your ears, you hear them as sound. Think of it like dominoes falling—one particle bumps the next, which bumps the next, and so on.

The amount of energy transferred during a collision affects how loud the sound is. If you clap your hands softly, only a little energy transfers to the air, so the sound is quiet. If you clap your hands hard, more energy transfers to the air, making the air vibrate more strongly. This creates a louder sound. The same thing happens when you drop a book—dropping it from higher up transfers more energy and makes a louder thud.

You can observe this with many everyday collisions. When you bang on a drum, the collision between your hand and the drum transfers energy that makes the drum and air vibrate. When you knock on a door, the collision creates vibrations in both the door and the air. Even typing on a keyboard creates tiny collision sounds as your fingers hit the keys.

Understanding how collisions produce sound helps us realize that sound energy comes from the movement and transfer of energy between objects and air. Every sound you hear started with some kind of collision or vibration. The louder the sound, the more energy was involved in creating those air vibrations. This connection between collisions, energy transfer, and sound is happening all around you, from the quietest whisper to the loudest crash.

What is a collision?

When objects hit or crash togetherWhen objects float in the airWhen objects stay completely stillWhen objects melt into liquid

What happens to energy during a collision?

Energy disappears completelyEnergy transfers from objects to airEnergy stays inside the objectsEnergy turns into water

What are vibrations?

Objects that never moveFast back-and-forth movementsVery slow movementsObjects that only move once

Why does clapping hard make louder sound?

It uses less energyIt stops all vibrationsIt transfers more energy to airIt makes no sound at all

What creates sound waves in the air?

Air particles staying perfectly stillVibrating air particles bumping each otherAir turning into solid objectsAir disappearing completely

What happens when you drop a book?

Higher drops transfer more energyAll drops make the same soundBooks never make soundsLower drops are always louder

All sounds start with some kind of collision.

TrueFalse

What does 'transfer' mean in this passage?

To stop all movement completelyTo move from one place to anotherTo make things disappear foreverTo freeze objects in place

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• Reading comprehension practice
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• Reading practice at home
• Comprehension improvement
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• Reading curriculum support
• Independent reading practice
• Progress monitoring

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Sound from Collisions — Reading Comprehension

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