Waves
Teacher notes:
- Have students play with slinky's for 5-8 minutes. Have them focus on what they can learn about waves. (This also lets them get their wiggles out about slinky's).
- Next, Have them write in their booklets things they've learned. Have them write a full page - complete with diagrams.
- Next, have them tell you what they've learned about waves.
- Use one of the things they've learned as a segway to introduce waves.
- Create a small wave
- Create a single wave
- Create a larger single wave
- Stretched out w. no action = equilibrium
•Waves are generally a propagation of energy through a medium (material)
•Waves depend on elasticity of the material. A wave passing through the medium applies an alternating unbalanced force to each molecule causing it to vibrate around its equilibrium or “rest” position.
Pay attention to the slides that I focus on - it'll help with your packet as they explain the basics of a wave.
•Waves depend on elasticity of the material. A wave passing through the medium applies an alternating unbalanced force to each molecule causing it to vibrate around its equilibrium or “rest” position.
Pay attention to the slides that I focus on - it'll help with your packet as they explain the basics of a wave.
Anatomy of the wave:
Amplitude is the height of the wave.
Wavelength is the length of the wave.
Frequency is how many waves go through in 1 second - (which is measured in Hertz (Hz).
The Wave and Energy:
The wave is pure energy; therefore, there are a few ways a wave shows a high level of energy and a low level of energy.
A wave with a high amplitude has a high level of energy - and a wave with a high frequency also has a high level of energy. Therefore, the wave with the ultimate level of energy is one with a high frequency (short wave) and high amplitude.
Amplitude is the height of the wave.
Wavelength is the length of the wave.
Frequency is how many waves go through in 1 second - (which is measured in Hertz (Hz).
The Wave and Energy:
The wave is pure energy; therefore, there are a few ways a wave shows a high level of energy and a low level of energy.
A wave with a high amplitude has a high level of energy - and a wave with a high frequency also has a high level of energy. Therefore, the wave with the ultimate level of energy is one with a high frequency (short wave) and high amplitude.
Some examples of how a wave affects the aspects of pitch and volume in sound.
Wave A: High Pitch, Low Volume
Wave B: High Pitch, High Volume
Wave C: Low Pitch, Low Volume
Wave D: Low Pitch, High Volume
Wave B has the most energy because it has the highest amplitude (loud) and highest frequency (pitch).
Wave C has the lowest energy because it has the lowest amplitude (soft) and lowest frequency (pitch).
Wave B & D have the same volume, as do A & C.
Wave A & B have the same pitch as do C & D.
Wave A: High Pitch, Low Volume
Wave B: High Pitch, High Volume
Wave C: Low Pitch, Low Volume
Wave D: Low Pitch, High Volume
Wave B has the most energy because it has the highest amplitude (loud) and highest frequency (pitch).
Wave C has the lowest energy because it has the lowest amplitude (soft) and lowest frequency (pitch).
Wave B & D have the same volume, as do A & C.
Wave A & B have the same pitch as do C & D.
How our senses perceive it:
Our ears perceive high amplitude as loud. The louder the sound is - the more energy it has.
Our ears perceive low amplitude as soft or quiet. The quieter the sound is - the less energy it has.
Our ears perceive high frequency as high pitch, or as a high note. The higher the note, the more energy it has.
Our ears perceive low frequency as a low pitch, or as a low note. The lower the note, the less energy it has.
Our eyes perceive high amplitude as bright light. The brighter it is, the more energy it has.
Our eyes perceive low amplitude as dim light. The dimmer light is, the less energy it has.
Our eyes perceive high frequency as violet (though the frequency could go much higher - but would be invisible to our eyes).
Our eyes perceive low frequency as red (though the frequency could go much lower - but would also be invisible to our eyes).
Violet has more energy than red does because it has a higher frequency.
Observations in general:
Our ears perceive high amplitude as loud. The louder the sound is - the more energy it has.
Our ears perceive low amplitude as soft or quiet. The quieter the sound is - the less energy it has.
Our ears perceive high frequency as high pitch, or as a high note. The higher the note, the more energy it has.
Our ears perceive low frequency as a low pitch, or as a low note. The lower the note, the less energy it has.
Our eyes perceive high amplitude as bright light. The brighter it is, the more energy it has.
Our eyes perceive low amplitude as dim light. The dimmer light is, the less energy it has.
Our eyes perceive high frequency as violet (though the frequency could go much higher - but would be invisible to our eyes).
Our eyes perceive low frequency as red (though the frequency could go much lower - but would also be invisible to our eyes).
Violet has more energy than red does because it has a higher frequency.
Observations in general:
- Frequency and Wavelength are connected
- Frequency and wavelength affect the pitch in sound
- High Frequency = High Pitch
- Low Frequency = Low Pitch
- Amplitude affects the height of the wave only. It is not connected with wavelength or frequency.
- Amplitude affects the volume of the sound.
- High Amplitude = Loud
- Low Amplitude = Soft