Waves

 

PS.7.8.4 Demonstrate the characteristics of waves: Wavelength, frequency,speed amplitude

Slow Waves on a phonecord: Make waves on a coiled phonecord, look at wavelength, amplitude and speed.

Hanging Slinky: Hang a slinky and send transverse waves down the slinky.

Dance of the sound wave: Line up 9 people and have them dance to the motion of a standing sound wave drawn with a white string.

 

PS.7.8.5 Longitudinal vs. transverse

Slinky in hand: Use a slinky on a taut monofilament line to model longitudinal waves.

 

PS.7.8.6 How energy is transported in: Seismic, Sound, Water, electromagnetic waves.

Domino model of a wave, when dominos fall what actually moves?

PS.7.8.7 How waves travel

Domino model of a wave, when dominos fall what actually moves?

 

PS.7.8.8 Reflection, refraction, absorption

Fresnel Lens and Laser: Trace the path of light from a laser through a large fresnel lens.

 

P.7.PS.1 Compare wave speeds through various mediums

Phone cord wave : Measure the speed of a wave on a phone cord.

 

P.7.PS.2 Explain Diffraction

Pencil diffraction: Look at a bright point of light through the slit between two pencils and see diffraction.

Interference: Shine a laser through two slits and see that light plus light can make dark.

Two slit interference model: Use index cards to make a model of how light waves add after passing through two slits.

Permanent Oil Slick: Deposit a thin layer of clear nailpolish on a black surface and see interference colors.

P.7.PS.3 Explain The Doppler effect

Doppler Model: Use transparent circles to model sound and the Doppler effect.

Mach 1 use transparent circles to model a shock wave.

 

P.7.PS.4 Lambda = vt, f = 1/T, V = f Lambda

 

Sound

 

P.7.PS.5 Perception of sound versus wave properties

Decibel meter : Use a decibel meter to measure the loudness of sounds.

The Dance of the Sound Wave : Have nine people dance the pattern of a standing sound wave.

Find the highest note: Use a website sound generator to listen to higher and lower pitches.

Harmonic phonecord: Shake a coiled phonecord to make the fundamental and higher harmonics of a standing wave.

Head Harp: Wrap a string around your head and over your ears to a hand held far in front of you, Pluck the string and listen to the pitch.

Ringing Aluminum Rod: Strike an aluminum rod and listen to the sounds, impose nodes and listen to the changing sounds.

Straw Oboe: Make a double reed instrument by cutting the end of a straw, then note the sound as the straw is shortened.

 

Electromagnetic spectrum

P.7.PS.6 Define light as waves and particles

What is light A historical survey with experiments.

Photoelectric effect

Spectra Explorations, Use a diffraction grating to spread light into a spectrum.

Polarized Light, Computer Liquid Crystal Display screens are sources of polarized light.

Fluorescent versus phosphorescence, Use an ultravioet light to excite fluorescent materials like tonic water and phosphrescent materials like zinc sulfide.

Infrared remote control, look at a television remote control with a digital camera to see the infrared light it emits.

 

P.7.PS.7 Explain making color with light and pigments

Color Diffraction Grating, take light apart into its spectrum.

Colored shadows, Use a shadow to remove a color of light to make the primary colors of subtractive light.

Colored shadows mirror Use mirrors to reflect colored light to add colors.

Color algebra The algebra of light and pigment.

The Anti Slit Light through a slit makes a spectrum, light blocked by a slat makes the spectrum of complementary color.

Color of Nature, A workshop on the colors found in Nature.

Three little pigments Use transparencies to show how subtractive primary colors can be combined to make other colors.

 

PS.7.8.9 -PS.7.8.11Electromagnetic spectrum and its uses

EM spectrum chart

PS.7.8.11 separate white light by refraction

Light box. use a box to create a beam of light then separate the colors of the light using a water prism.

P.7.PS.8 Separate white light by diffraction

Color diffraction grating: Use a diffraction grating to separate light into its colors.

Peel a CD Peel the metal off a CD and you will have a transmission diffraction grating.

Soap film interference A soap film separates light into its colors by using interference.

Soap Film in a Can, make a soap film across the open end of a film can, observe interference colors.

Soap film interference model Use 3 x 5 cards to model how a thin film creates colors by interference.

Soap film color A model explaining how soap film interference makes colors by subtraction .

P.7.PS.9 Illustrate constructive and destructive interference

Two slit interference model: Use 3x5 cards to model interference of waves.

Soap film interference model: Use 3 x 5 cards to model how a thin film creates colors by interference.

PS.7.8.11 Information transfer by sound, light,radio,microwave

 

 

 

 

 

Scientific Explorations with Paul Doherty

© 2008

7 January 2008