How the eardrum works. A large bowl or pot Plastic wrap 20-30 grains of uncooked rice A cookie sheet To make a model of the eardrum, stretch a piece of plastic wrap over your bowl or pot. Make sure the wrap is on there tight. The plastic wrap represents the eardrum. Place about 20-30 grains of uncooked rice on the top of the plastic wrap. Now you need some noise. Hold the cookie sheet close to the plastic wrap. Hit the cookie sheet to create a "big bang" noise and watch the rice grains jump. Now you know how sound causes your eardrum to vibrate, sending messages to your brain about the sounds you're hearing! Your Ears Back to Articles Related Articles Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.