A tin-can phone is easy to make with two paper cups or clean, empty cans and a length of string. Make a small hole in the base of each container, thread the string through, and knot it inside. With two people holding the string taut and clear of other objects, one can speak while the other listens. Then switch roles and experiment with what changes the sound.
What you need
- Two paper cups or two empty cans
- A long piece of string; Parks Canada recommends at least four metres (12 feet) as a starting length
- A tool to make a small hole in each container’s base
- Optional: markers or stickers for decorating the cups
Paper cups are a convenient choice for children because making holes in cans involves piercing metal. An adult should make the holes, or help with the task, and check cans for sharp edges before children handle them. The four-metre suggestion is a starting point, not a tested ideal or a guaranteed range.
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How to make and use the phone
- Make a small hole in the center of the base of each cup or can. Have an adult handle the piercing.
- Thread one end of the string through each hole. Tie a knot on the inside of each container so the string cannot slip back out.
- Decorate the cups if you like, keeping the holes and string attachment clear.
- Have two people move apart until the string is taut. Keep it from touching furniture, walls, or other objects.
- One person speaks into their container while the other holds theirs to an ear and listens. Switch roles and try again.
Why the string needs to be taut
Speaking makes the bottom of the first cup or can vibrate. A taut string carries those vibrations to the other container, whose base vibrates and produces sound for the listener. A slack or obstructed string can interfere with that connection, so tension and a clear path are good first checks when the sound is weak.
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Test one change at a time
Start with the string taut and suspended clear of surfaces. Ask the child to predict what might happen if the string becomes slack or rests against something. Change just that one condition, listen, and then restore the original setup. The activity sources suggest these variables but do not report controlled measurements, so treat what you hear as an observation rather than a guaranteed result.
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Compare cups and strings
Try different cups or string types, changing only one material at a time. Let the listener describe whether the voice seems clearer, softer, or different. The activity instructions encourage comparing cups and strings, but do not establish that one material is objectively best.
Try a three-person party line
The University of Wisconsin–Madison activity suggests attaching another cup and string at the middle to make a three-way arrangement. Give it a try as a playful experiment; it is not a guarantee that all listeners will hear equally well.
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Help if you cannot hear each other
- Check tension: move farther apart until the string is taut.
- Clear the path: make sure the string is not resting on or touching another object.
- Check the attachments: confirm each end is knotted inside its container and the string is not slipping through the hole.
- Try again with one speaker and one listener: take turns, speaking into one container while the other is held to the ear.
These checks address the setup described in the activity instructions. They do not promise clear speech at every distance or in every environment.
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Keep the activity age-appropriate
Supervise children whenever sharp tools are in use. The Scottish Government education resource advises supervision with sharp objects, and Parks Canada notes that an adult may need to use a needle or other piercing tool. For the simplest setup, use paper cups and have an adult make and inspect the holes. Keep the string out of walkways while playing. The cited instructions do not give a formal age rating, so supervision should depend on the child and the tools being used.
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Sources
- Parks Canada: Kids’ Corner – Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site
- The Wonders of Physics, University of Wisconsin–Madison: Build a String Telephone
- Education Scotland: Let’s explore: I am a Scientist
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