To accompany feature “Sound ways — literally — to move and filter things”

SCIENCE
 

Before Reading:

1.   What is sound?

2.   We mainly experience sound through our ears. But have you ever felt a sound? Describe when and where this occurred.

During Reading:

1.   What does acoustophoresis mean? Where does the word come from?

2.   What trick did two German physicists do using sound in the 1930s?

3.   What does it mean when someone refers to a soundwave’s amplitude? What about its wavelength?

4.   Describe three different outcomes that may occur when soundwaves crash into each other.

5.   What is a node and how can it help levitate small objects?

6.   How is Anke Urbansky using sound to move white blood cells? Why does she want to do this?

7.   What is Bart Lipkens using acoustophoresis for?

8.   What is viscosity, and why does it matter for printing?

9.   What is cohesion, and why does it matter for printing?

10.  In Daniele Foresti’s printer, how does sound help the “ink” come out?
 

After Reading: 

1.   Daniele Foresti’s printer can turn many different liquids into “ink” for printing. With a thick enough liquid, it can even print in three dimensions. Describe some possible ways this tool might help people.

2.   Some people in the story talked about using sound to filter, or separate, different materials. What other possible applications might there be for this? Hint: What aspects of the things to be separated must be different in order for this to work?