Does two cans and a string really work?

The old “two cans and a string” technique (or better yet, “two paper cups and a string”) really does work. The key is to make sure that the string is tight between the two cups, and this normally means that the distance is limited and the two people have to be connected to each other by a straight line.

What kind of string for a tin can telephone?

cotton string
Step 1. You will need 2 empty tin cans, a hammer, a nail or screw, masking or duct tape, and a long piece of cotton string or fishing line, about 10 to 30 feet in length.

How does a soup can string work?

How Do Tin Can Phones Work? Talking causes little vibrations in the air in front of your mouth, as you can tell by speaking into your hand. When you send those vibrations into the can, they cause the back end to vibrate. This vibration is passed along the string and into the other can.

What string is best for a cup and string phone?

String a piece of twine between the cups. Use a long piece of string to help the sound travel farther….You’ll need just a few things for this project:

  • Styrofoam or paper cups.
  • Cotton twine.
  • Markers.
  • Scissors.

Does the telephone work better when the string is tight or loose?

If the string is kept tight, the sound waves will travel. If the string is loose, the sound is less. This is because the lose string causes the vibrations to travel all around rather than directly down the string.

How do you communicate with cups and strings?

Cut a length of string and thread it through the hole in each cup. Tie a paper clip on the end of each string, on the inside of the cup. Find a friend, walk apart until the string is tight then talk through the inside of your cup while they listen on their cup. What happened?

Will twine work for a tin can phone?

You’ll also need string, and lots of it! The guys in the 2013 video used nylon twine, which is pretty stout. Of course they were also running their line over 650 feet. Cotton string, fishing line and ordinary twine also work.

How do you make a can phone string?

Hold one tin can, and give the other tin can to someone else. Walk away from each other until the string between the can is taut. Speak into the open end of one can while your partner listens to the open end of his can. Switch it around and listen.

What is a can with string called?

Description: The tin can telephone is made of a string connecting two tin cans or paper cups. When the sender talks into one side it vibrates air in the cup which vibrates the bottom of the cup.

Can and string phone distance?

Their maximum range was very limited, but hundreds of technical innovations (resulting in about 300 patents) increased their range to approximately 0.5 miles (800 m), or more under ideal conditions.

Does a tin can telephone work?

Description: The tin can telephone is made of a string connecting two tin cans or paper cups. When the sender talks into one side it vibrates air in the cup which vibrates the bottom of the cup. This vibration is transferred through the string and received at the other end by sound.

Does yarn work for cup phones?

To make your own cup phones, use the tip of a pencil to poke a small hole at the bottom of each of your two cups. Next, thread the string through the hole of one cup. We just tied a knot in the yarn on the inside of the cup to keep it in place.

What is a cup and string phone called?

A tin can telephone is a type of acoustic (non-electrical) speech-transmitting device made up of two tin cans, paper cups or similarly shaped items attached to either end of a taut string or wire.

When was the string and can invented?

1664 – Tin Cans and String Robert Hooke undertakes first serious experiments using cans and string. The “Tin Can Telephone” or “String Telephone” is the first, and most basic telephone that has ever existed. It was essentially an acoustic, non-electrical speech-transmitting device made of two twin cans.

What is a string telephone called?

How do you make a phone out of cups and strings?

Cut a length of string and thread it through the hole in each cup. Tie a paper clip on the end of each string, on the inside of the cup. Find a friend, walk apart until the string is tight then talk through the inside of your cup while they listen on their cup.