Kraakdoos

High school (ages 12+)
Art & Creativity

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/kraakdoos

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the instrument classification?Custom-built electronic noise-making device and experimental musical instrument
2. What is the development period?Conceived in the 1960s, further developed in the 1970s
3. How does touching the Kraakdoos make sound?When you touch the six metal contacts, you close a circuit. Your skin’s resistance changes the electrical signals, producing different noises.
4. Why does the Kraakdoos sound so noisy and distorted?The simple electronics, especially the LM709 op-amp that can oscillate, create intentional distortion. This makes the box sound raw and fun.

Operational Amplifier (Op-Amp): A high-gain electronic voltage amplifier with a differential input and usually a single output.
Frequency Compensation: A technique used in amplifier design to prevent oscillation and ensure stable operation across a range of frequencies.
Phase-Shift Oscillator: An electronic oscillator circuit that produces a sinusoidal waveform by shifting the phase of the signal through multiple RC networks.
Dead Band: A range of input values for which a device produces no output or an output that is not responsive to changes in the input.