College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
3D32.18 - Soda Straw Oboe
Flatten the end of the soda straw and cut a small slit on each side of the flattened part. Press between your lips and blow. A high pitched sound should be heard. With practice, other pitches may be obtained.
- Martin Gardner, "A Puzzling Moo Horn", TPT, Vol. 32, #5, May 1994, p. 314.
- James Vokac and William Blunk, "Soda Straws", TPT, Vol. 23, #9, Dec. 1985, p. 567.
- "Vibration in Pipes", TPT, Vol. 18, #5, May 1980, p. 383, also A Potpourri of Physics Teaching Ideas - Sounds, p. 253.
- Robert Ehrlich, "J.6, Snipping a Straw As You Toot", Turn the World Inside Out, p. 133.
- Janice VanCleave, "Design a Musical Instrument That Can Play Different Pitches", Super Science Challenges, p. 130.
- "Soda Straw Flute or Oboe", Physics From The Junk Drawer, 3rd Edition, The Science House, North Carolina State University, p. 44.
- Bobby Mercer, "Straw Oboe", Junk Drawer Physics, p. 55.
- Herb Strongin, “Making a Straw Change Its Pitch“, Science on a Shoestring, p. 141.
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