Waves and Their Applications - Unit 1

Waves and Their Applications

• Unit 1 – Module L: Covers the fundamental concepts of waves.

Standards

• MS-PS4-1: Students use mathematical models to describe how wave amplitude correlates with wave energy.
• MS-PS4-2: Students develop models to explain how waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials.

Objectives

• Describe the absorption and transmission of light.
• List examples of transparent, translucent, and opaque objects.
• Categorize objects as opaque, translucent, or transparent.
• Compare and contrast transparent, translucent, and opaque objects.

Vocabulary

• Transmission: The passage of light waves through matter.
• Absorption: The transfer of light energy to matter.
• Transparent: Materials that allow light to pass completely through them.
• Translucent: Materials that allow some light to pass through but scatter it in different directions.
• Opaque: Materials that do not allow light to pass through.

Starter Activity

• Students observe sandwiches wrapped in different materials (clear plastic wrap, waxed paper, brown paper).
• The activity aims to assess how the wrappers affect what they see.

Group Work

• Group 1: Explore the meaning of light transmission.
• Group 2: Research the meanings of transparent, translucent, and opaque objects.
• Group 3: Research the meaning of light absorption.

Transmission of Light

• The passage of light waves through matter is called transmission.

Types of Mediums

• Clear Plastic Wrap (Transparent): Allows all light to pass through, easily showing the contents.
• Waxed Paper (Translucent): Lets some light pass through but scatters it, partially obscuring the sandwich.
• Brown Paper (Opaque): Blocks all light, making it impossible to see the sandwich through it.

Absorption of Light

• Absorption is the transfer of light energy to matter.
• Opaque materials block light from passing through. They absorb it or reflect it.
• When light enters a material and doesn't exit, it's absorbed, and a shadow is formed.

Checking Understanding (Page 63)

• Question A: Clear plastic wrap allows all light to pass through.
• Question B: Waxed paper allows some light to pass through.
• Question C: Brown paper prevents any light from passing through.

Day 2 - Lesson 4 (Lab)

• Objectives:
  • Identify objects as transparent, translucent, or opaque.
  • Categorize materials based on the amount of light they transmit.
  • Investigate the behavior of light passing through different objects.

Day 3 - Project (Waste Audit)

• Objectives: Conduct a waste audit of the school environment.
• Outcomes: Students assess waste issues, organize data, identify problem areas, and consider solutions.
• Procedures: Students conduct a waste audit, categorizing different waste types and counting quantities.

Day 4 - Sports Day

• A scheduled sports activity.