When entrepreneur and producer Russell Simmons stopped by the show, he showed off his genius for making music – by using science. Find out how Russell transformed glass bottles, water and a spoon into a makeshift musical instrument. Then try it out for yourself at home!
How did Russell make music using bottles?
Empty bottles of identical size would all produce the same noise if you tapped them with a spoon. But, by filling the bottles with different amounts of water, Russell altered each bottle’s “vibrating mass” and, thus, its pitch. This is why each bottle produced a different sound, and why, together, they form an instrument capable of melodies. The technique gives insight into how real musical instruments are constructed.
