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Waves and Sound

The lesson plans below include links to the specific resources on our website.

Teacher Guides for labs can be found here.

NOTE: All CalcPad problem sets are customized problem sets created specifically for this course. The links direct users to the Guest version. Task Tracker users should use the link on the Task Tracker page to the trackable CalcPad version.



Lesson Plans || Learning Outcomes and Activities || Teacher Notes || Labs
 
 
 

Day 1 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Introduce unit
  2. Lab 1: A Wiggle in Time
    Do and process; emphasize a vibration is a repeating and periodic disturbance of an object about an otherwise fixed position
  3. Discuss/define: period, frequency, and amplitude; damping; position and velocity vary as a function of time in a sinusoidal manner
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Vibrations and Waves: Lesson 0, Parts a and b
  2. Concept Builder: Frequency and Period
 
 

Day 2 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Lab 2 - A Wiggle in Time and Space
    Simulation Page
    Do and process; a vibration is a wiggle in time. A wave is a collection of wigglers ... a wiggle in time extended across space.
  2. Discuss the nature of a wave and categories of waves (longitudinal vs. transverse; mechanical vs. EM)
  3. Pair Practice: Waves (Honors) Think Sheet
    (5 Characteristics: waves are a wiggle in time extended across space; waves are a repeating and periodic disturbance of a medium; particles vibrate about a fixe position; waves propagate by particle-to-particle interaction; waves transport energy without transporting matter)
  4. If time allows, Minds On Physics: Mission WM1 on Nature and Categories of Waves
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Vibrations and Waves: Lesson 1, Parts a, b, and c
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission WM1 on Nature and Categories of Waves
 

 

Day 3 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Physics Interactives: Simple Wave Simulator with Student Activity Sheet
    Do and process; assign accompanying Concept Checker
  2. Discuss Wave Properties (frequency, period, wavelength, amplitude, speed)
  3. Describing Waves Think Sheet
  4. If time allows, do Concept Checker: Simple Wave Simulator
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Vibrations and Waves: Lesson 2, Parts a, b, and c
  2. If not done in class, complete Concept Checker: Simple Wave Simulator
 
 

Day 4 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Concept Builder: Wave Basics
  2. Discuss Wave Speed
    Definition, units; v=d/t and v=f•λ; depends on properties of the medium
  3. Lab 3 - Speed of a Wave
    Do as a demo lab if equipment is limited or to insure best results
  4. Pair Practice: Wave Speed Think Sheet
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Vibrations and Waves: Lesson 2, Parts d and e
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission WM3 on Wave Speed
 

 

Day 5 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Lab 4 - Wave Demonstration Lab
    Do and process
  2. Physics Interactives: The Boundary Behavior of Waves with Student Activity Sheet
    Do and process
  3. Physics Interactives: Wave Addition with Student Activity Sheet
    Do and process
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Concept Checker: Boundary Behavior
  2. Concept Checker: Wave Addition
 
 

Day 6 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Review Wave Behaviors (Lab and simulations)
  2. Pair Practice: Boundary Behavior Think Sheet
  3. Pair Practice: Interference of Waves Think Sheet
  4. Concept Builder: Wave Interference
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Vibrations and Waves: Lesson 3, Parts a and b
  2. Minds on Physics: Mission WM5 on Boundary Behavior of Waves
 

 

Day 7 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Develop concept of a wavelength; ID # of waves in a pattern; determine wavelength from L and # of waves
  2. Concept Builder: Wavelength
  3. Demonstrate/Discuss Standing Wave Patterns
    Animation of how they are formed: https://www.desmos.com/calculator/xgq0tckhyz
    Patterns, nodes, antinodes, wavelength-length relationship, harmonics; frequency relationships
  4. Guided/Individual: Standing Wave Mathematics Think Sheet
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Vibrations and Waves: Lesson 4, Parts c, d, and e
  2. CalcPad - Waves and Sound 1 on Wave Properties
 
 

Day 8 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Lab 5 - Vibrating Spring
    Do and process
  2. Review - Concept Builder: Rocking the Boat
  3. Minds On Physics: Mission WM7 on Standing Wave Patterns and Harmonics
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. CalcPad - Waves and Sound 2 on Standing Wave Math
  2. Finish incomplete class work
 
 

Day 9 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Science Reasoning Center: Sound as a Pressure Wave
  2. Discuss Sound Waves
    Mechanical, longitudinal, pressure wave; produced by vibrating objects; pressure plots; compressions and rarefactions, wavelength; frequency and pitch; amplitude and intensity; relationship to loudness; demonstrations
  3. Pair Practice: The Nature of Sound Waves Think Sheet
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Sound Waves and Music: Lesson 1, Parts a, b, and c
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission SM1 on The Nature of a Sound Wave
 

 

Day 10 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Review properties of sound waves
  2. Pair Practice: Properties of Sound Waves Think Sheet
  3. Lab 6: Mach 1
  4. Guided and Individual Practice: The Speed of Sound Think Sheet
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Sound Waves and Music: Lesson 2, Parts a and c
  2. CalcPad - Waves and Sound 3 on Sound Properties
 

 

Day 11 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Discuss intensity-power-distance; intensity and deciBels
  2. Guided/Individual/Pair Practice: Inverse Square Law and Decibel Level Calculations (Honors)
  3. Concept Builder: Decibel Scale
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Sound Waves and Music: Lesson 2, Part b
  2. CalcPad - Waves and Sound 4 on Intensity and Decibels
 

 

Day 12 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Lab 7 - Natural Frequency and Standing Waves
    Requires sound interface probes OR our FREE Sound Spectrum Viewer in FFT Mode
  2. Discuss natural frequency, forced vibrations, resonance; review harmonics and standing wave patterns; "fundamental frequency"; demonstrations. Use Resonance Think Sheet
  3. Pair Practice: complete Resonance Think Sheet
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Sound Waves and Music: Lesson 4, all Parts
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission SM5 on Resonance and Standing Wave Patterns
 

 

Day 13 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Discuss stringed instruments; use Resonance and Guitar Strings Think Sheet: #1-3
  2. Pair Practice: complete Resonance and Guitar Strings Think Sheet
  3. Concept Builder: Name That Harmonic - Strings
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Sound Waves and Music: Lesson 5, Parts a and b
  2. CalcPad - Waves and Sound 5 on Resonating Strings
 

 

Day 14 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Discuss closed end air columns; use Resonance and Closed-End Air Columns Think Sheet: #1-3
  2. Pair Practice: complete Resonance and Closed-End Air Columns Think Sheet
  3. Lab 8: Closed-End Air Columns
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Sound Waves and Music: Lesson 5, Part d
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission SM10 on Harmonics for Closed-End Air Columns
 

 

Day 15 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Review/Practice: selected problems from Mathematics of Musical Instruments (Honors) Think Sheet
  2. Concept Builder: Name That Harmonic - Closed-End Air Columns
  3. Discuss open-end air columns; use Resonance and Open-End Air Columns Think Sheet: #1-3
  4. Pair Practice: complete Resonance and Open-End Air Columns Think Sheet
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Sound Waves and Music: Lesson 5, Part c
  2. CalcPad - Waves and Sound 6 on Resonating Air Columns
 

 

Day 16 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Review air column resonance
  2. Practice: selected problems from Mathematics of Musical Instruments (Honors) Think Sheet
  3. Lab 9: Open-End Air Columns
  4. Concept Builder: Name That Harmonic - Open-End Air Columns
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. CalcPad - Waves and Sound 7 on Resonating Air Columns
  2. Complete Concept Builder: Name That Harmonic - Open-End Air Columns 


 

Day 17 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Practice: selected problems from Mathematics of Musical Instruments (Honors) Think Sheet
  2. CalcPad - Waves and Sound 8 on Resonating Strings and Air Columns
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Prepare for Tomorrow's Test
  2. Complete all unfinished work


 










 



 
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