Our World Of Waves

Grade Level: 7-12
Subject: Science /Mathematics

On Monday, February 4, 2008, the Beatles became legends among the stars. Their well-known classic "Across the Universe" became the first song ever to be beamed directly into space.

The event celebrated the 40th anniversary of the song, the 45th anniversary of the Deep Space Network (DSN), and the 50th anniversary of NASA. The DSN was responsible for the actual beaming of the song, which was done from their Madrid Deep Space Complex, located just outside of Madrid, Spain. The song waves traveled 186,000 miles per second toward the star Polaris, the "North Star," about 431 light years from Earth.

Sound waves are what allow us to hear music, like classic Beatles songs, but many other types of waves and wave uses are also part of our world. Light waves, electromagnetic (EM) waves, waves of the ocean, and so forth, shape the nature of our world, as well as our interaction with and understanding of it.

During this week's lesson, you will learn about what waves are and how they travel across distances.

Wave Riding

Start with getting a complete overview of what waves with The Physics Classroom Tutorial. As you browse through the modules, click to view animations and check your understanding using the quiz at the bottom of each page. Take notes and draw illustrations to help you remember key concepts. Also, use a sheet of paper to keep track of the variables and equations introduced and used. You may wish to include an example for each, as well as written descriptions of how the variables relate to one another.

In the general Waves section, review Lesson 1: The Nature of a Wave, which explains Waves and Wave-like Motion, What is a Wave? and Categories of Waves. Brainstorm types of mediums waves can travel through. What are the differences between a longitudinal, transverse, and surface wave? Mechanical versus electromagnetic? Summarize their definitions and differences for later reference.

In Lesson 2: Properties of a Wave, take notes on The Anatomy of a Wave and The Properties of a Wave. What is the difference between a wave's period, frequency and speed? Next, learn more about Energy Transport and the Amplitude of a Wave, The Speed of a Wave, and examine The Wave Equation. What factors can influence the wave equation's variables?

In Lesson 3: Behavior of Waves, you will discover what Boundary Behavior is, compare and contrast Reflection, Refraction, and Diffraction, and what happens during Wave Inference and when Waves are Generated by Moving Sources.

Lesson 4 explains all about Standing Waves. This section explains the differences between Traveling Waves and Standing Waves. Dig even deeper by examining the Formation of Standing Waves, Nodes and Anti-nodes, Harmonics and Patterns, and the Mathematics of Standing Waves.

Take your wave riding even further, by surfing the tutorial's other wave-related modules: Sound Waves and Music, Lightwaves and Color, Reflection and the Ray Model of Light, and Refraction. Discuss with classmates what factors influence wave behavior.

Electromagnetic (EM) Waves

Travel to the Physics 2000 site to get a glimpse at waves on an atomic and subatomic level. Play around with the site's interactive java applets, wherever you find them during your exploration.

Dive into the Electromagnetic Waves module. Click Next at the bottom to move between pages. What are the differences and similarities between EM waves and other types of waves in their natures and in what forces influence their behaviors?

If you have time, browse the site's Table of Contents to learn more about related topics, such as X-Rays, Microwave Ovens, Lasers, TV Screens, and Laptop Screens. In what ways have humans harnessed the nature of waves in various technologies and applications? Discuss these with classmates.