Why is the bell within a glass jar that is connected to a vacuum pump, suspended by rubber bands when demonstrating that sound cannot travel without a medium?

Question

anonymous · Answer

Probably so the vibrations have a harder time shaking the glass making it oscillate and make noise.

fellowroot · Answer

Because you can move the glass jar back and forth making the bell "ring" and you can observe that there is no sound. You can see something that's supposed to make a sound yet it doesn't.

anonymous · Answer

If the rubber bands are tightened, wouldn't the vibrations from the bell pass through the rubber bands more easily and transmit the sound out through the rubber bands?

anonymous · Answer

@dcmoto , perhaps a little, but more energy will be lost to the vibrations of the rubber, and not much will make it to the glass.