IPC Unit 5: Waves (Sound and Light)

During this Unit

This unit focuses on the characteristics and behaviors of waves. Students will explore the characteristics of transverse and longitudinal waves, which include wavelength, amplitude, crest, trough, frequency, and period. Students will investigate the behaviors of waves as they encounter a change, which include reflection, refraction, diffraction, interference, and absorption. Students will explore the characteristics and behaviors of waves using real world examples including acoustic, seismic, light, and ocean waves.

 

Misconceptions:

  • Students may think you can see and hear a distinct event at the same moment, rather than sound waves traveling slower than light waves.

  • Students may think sounds can travel through empty space (a vacuum), rather than sound requiring a medium through which to travel. 

  • Students may think sounds cannot travel through liquids and solids, rather than different media only altering the behavior of the waves.

 

Key Content Vocabulary:

  • Amplitude – total distance a wave moves from its resting position

  • Compression – where the wave pushes the matter closer together

  • Crest – highest point of a wave

  • Diffraction – bending of a wave through an opening or around the edge of an object

  • Frequency – the number of times a wave passes a certain point in a given amount of time

  • Interference – when two or more waves arrive at the same point and occupy the same space

  • Longitudinal wave – oscillations (vibrations of the wave) are in the same direction as the wave (slinky, sound waves)

  • Mechanical wave – energy that travels through matter (e.g., sound, ocean waves, and earthquake waves)

  • Oscillation – vibration or movement of waves

  • Period – the time needed for one complete cycle of vibration to pass a given point

  • Rarefaction – where the wave pushes matter farther apart

  • Refraction – bending of a wave as it crosses the boundary between one medium and another

  • Transverse wave – oscillations (vibrations of the wave) are perpendicular to direction of the waves (string, water)

  • Trough – lowest point of a wave

 

Related Vocabulary:

  • Doppler effect

  • Echolocation

  • Electromagnetic wave

  • Gamma ray

  • Hertz

  • Infrared

  • Microscope

  • Microwaves

  • P Waves

  • Propagation

  • Radio

  • Reflection

  • S Waves

  • Sonar

  • Superimpose

  • Superposition

  • Telescope

  • Ultrasound

  • Ultraviolet

  • Velocity

  • Visible light

  • Wavelength

  • X-ray

 

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