Waves and Their Applications

Module L: Waves and their Applications

• Module covers waves and their applications
• Unit 1: Waves

Day 1 - Lesson 1: Introduction to Waves

• Standards:
  • MS-PS4-1: Using mathematical representations to describe a simple wave model, including how amplitude relates to wave energy.
  • MS-PS4-2: Developing and using a model to describe wave reflection, absorption, or transmission through different materials.
• Objectives:
  • Define wave
  • Give examples of mediums
  • Categorize waves as needing or not needing a medium
  • Compare and contrast mechanical and electromagnetic waves

Vocabulary

• wave
• medium
• mechanical wave
• electromagnetic wave

Starter (Engage)

• Study a picture of a wave on water
• Answer questions about what waves are

What are Waves?

• A wave is a repeating disturbance that transfers energy from place to place
• Examples: light waves, sound waves, water waves

Wave Transfer Energy

• A wave transfers energy in the direction it travels
• The wave in the picture travels to the right, so energy is transferred to the right

Medium

• A medium is a matter through which a wave travels
• Examples: air, liquid, solid
• Mechanical waves travel through a medium (matter)
• Electromagnetic waves don't need a medium to travel

Check Your Understanding

• Categorize waves as mechanical or electromagnetic, and explain why:
  • Water wave - Mechanical
  • Sound wave - Mechanical
  • Light wave - Electromagnetic
  • Wave on spring/slinky - Mechanical

Day 2 - Lesson 1 (Continued): Types of Waves

• Standards:

  • MS-PS4-1: Using mathematical representations to describe a simple wave model, including how amplitude relates to wave energy.
  • MS-PS4-2: Developing and using a model to describe wave reflection, absorption, or transmission through different materials.

• Objectives:

  • List the two types of waves
  • Identify the meaning of longitudinal wave
  • Identify the meaning of transverse wave
  • Label parts of longitudinal and transverse waves
  • Explain how a mechanical wave is formed
  • Model and compare longitudinal and transverse waves

Vocabulary

• Longitudinal wave
• Transverse wave
• Compression
• Rarefaction
• Crest
• Trough

Types of Mechanical Waves

• Mechanical waves are produced when a source of energy causes a medium to vibrate
  • Transverse wave: particles move perpendicular to the wave direction (water wave, spring wave)
  • Longitudinal wave: particles move parallel to the wave direction (sound wave)

Parts of Transverse Waves

• Crest: the highest point of the wave
• Trough: the lowest point of the wave
• Amplitude: the distance from the rest position to the crest or trough
• Wavelength: the distance between two consecutive crests or troughs

Parts of Longitudinal Waves

• Compression: where coils are close together
• Rarefaction: where coils are spread out
• Amplitude: the distance from the rest position to a compression or rarefaction
• Wavelength: the distance between two consecutive compressions or rarefaction

Think Pair Share - Check Your Understanding

• Draw the parts of the two types of waves learned.

Independent Activity - Practice Labeling

• Label a diagram of longitudinal and transverse waves

Group Work (Explore) - Modeling Two Types of Waves

• Use a slinky to create different types of waves
• Focus on how the slinky moves and which direction the movement is

Check Your Understanding - Do This After the Activity

• Compare and contrast longitudinal and transverse waves
• Give an example of a longitudinal and a transverse wave
• Identify which part of a longitudinal wave corresponds with crest/trough of a transverse wave
• Draw a longitudinal and transverse wave