TN Conceptual Physics Standards - 2008-2009 Implementation

Waves and Optics

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Conceptual Physics: Standard 3 - Waves and Optics
Checks for Understanding 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.10 | 3.11 | 3.12 | 3.13 | 3.14 | 3.15 | 3.16 | 3.17 | 3.18 | 3.19
Science Curriculum Standards 3237 - Conceptual Physics	Internet Resources
Investigate simple harmonic motion. 3.1
Explore Hooke’s Law. 3.2
Investigate and analyze wavelength, frequency and amplitude of longitudinal and transverse waves. 3.3
Compare mechanical and electromagnetic waves. 3.4	Electromagnetic Spectrum - In this applet, you can click on the wavelength/frequency scale and change the wavelength and frequency by dragging the mouse or by using the arrow keys on the keyboard. Holding the shift key down while pressing the left or right arrow keys changes the wavelength by a factor of 10.
Investigate reflection, refraction, diffraction, and interference of sound waves. 3.5	Beat Frequencies in Sound - A beat frequency or beat wave is a sound of fluctuating volume caused when you add two sound waves of slightly different frequencies. Tacoma Narrows Bridge Failure - photos illustrating this classic case of wave interaction you might also want to see a short (10 second) clip of the failure. Resonance applet with instructions in the form of a dialog Experiments on Wave Interference Classic two slit interference change the slit separation to determine the interference pattern Diffraction of Light by a Single Slit - an applet to investigate diffraction Explore standing waves created by waves moving in opposite direction (no reflection) with this java applet Standing Longitudinal Waves - This Java applet demonstrates the harmonics of the air in a tube as an example of standing longitudinal waves. Standing Wave - Explanation by Superposition with the Reflected Wave Create standing waves (with reflection at a boundary) with this excellent java applet. Change parameters or step the animation forward slowly while viewing the component waves to investigate interference. To isolate wave reflection, you might want to view the reflection of a single pulse. Hearing Subtraction - (an activity on frequency and beats) This site allows students to hear beat frequency caused by two sounds. Interference of Light at a Double Slit - an applet to investigate interference Interference of two Circular or Spherical Waves - This Java applet shows the interference of two circular respectively spherical waves (e.g. of water or sound waves). Reflection and Refraction of Light Waves [Huygens' Principle] - This applet is a tutorial which explains the reflection and the refraction of waves by the principle of Huygens. Refraction of Light - The applet shows the reflected and the refracted ray and calculates the corresponding angles. Students can change the incident angle and the media.
Demonstrate the Doppler Effect. 3.6	This police car applet might make an interesting introduction to the subject of the Doppler effect Behavior of Waves : The Doppler Effect Java applet - Click anywhere within the gray area and drag the mouse. An arrow representing the source velocity vector will appear. Doppler applet which allows users to change wave speed, source speed, and wave length by clicking and dragging A nice Doppler applet from Fear of Physics Doppler Physlet - an applet (by another name) Doppler Effect Example - java applet The Doppler Effect and Sonic Booms An amazing picture of a sonic boom from Astronomy Picture of the Day
Determine the speed of sound experimentally and describe how various materials and temperatures affect wave transmission. 3.7
Measure spring constants. 3.8	Hooke's Law - This java applet allows students to change variables and investigate Hooke's law.
Compare wave characteristics to natural auditory phenomena. 3.9	Beat Frequencies in Sound - A beat frequency or beat wave is a sound of fluctuating volume caused when you add two sound waves of slightly different frequencies. Decibel Levels - This Cool Math page contains a list of decibel levels of everything from guitars to jet engines! Decibels - from Hyperphysics, includes an interactive decibel calculation section Hearing Subtraction - an activity on beats and frequency Typical average decibel levels (dB) of some common sounds - scroll to the bottom Understanding Sound Intensity - a good decibel scale is included What is a decibel? - an extensive discussion of this logarithmic unit used to describe a ratio What is a decibel, and what is the loudest sound I can listen to before it hurts my ears? - from How Stuff Works
Explore properties of the electromagnetic spectrum. 3.10	Electromagnetic Spectrum - In this applet, you can click on the wavelength/frequency scale and change the wavelength and frequency by dragging the mouse or by using the arrow keys on the keyboard. Holding the shift key down while pressing the left or right arrow keys changes the wavelength by a factor of 10.
Examine properties of light waves. 3.11	Electromagnetic Wave - This animation (java applet) shows an electromagnetic wave, namely a plane polarized wave, which propagates in positive x direction.
Investigate reflection, refraction, diffraction, and interference of light waves. 3.12	Beat Frequencies in Sound - A beat frequency or beat wave is a sound of fluctuating volume caused when you add two sound waves of slightly different frequencies. Beats - a java applet to investigate this sound phenomenon Diffraction of Light by a Single Slit - an applet to investigate diffraction Hearing Subtraction - an activity on beats and frequency Index of wave terms - good diagrams accompany each definition Standing Wave - Explanation by Superposition with the Reflected Wave
Investigate the polarization of plane and curved mirrors. 3.13	Electromagnetic Wave - This animation (java applet) shows an electromagnetic wave, namely a plane polarized wave, which propagates in positive x direction.
Use ray tracings to solve optics of mirrors and lenses problems. 3.14	An index of ray optics animations from the Physics Classroom Ray Diagrams - Concave Mirrors Ray Diagrams - Convex Mirrors Ray Diagram Simulator - change variables - double convex lens The anatomy of a lens Refraction by Lenses Image Formation Revisited Ray Diagrams (converging lenses) Object-Image Relations Ray Diagrams (diverging lenses) Object-Image Relations The Mathematics of Lenses Thick Lens java applet which allows your students to manipulate the variables The transmission of a wave through dense media - Reflection and Refraction (an excellent java applet which allows your students to manipulate the variables
Solve problems related to Snell’s laws. 3.15	The mathematics of refraction - Snell's law Boundary Behavior - the concepts behind the math known as Snell's law Snell's law Java applet from Northwestern University - manipulate the variables on both sides of the boundary, and see a wave front view or a laser view Refraction and Reflection - change the indices of refraction of the two media, and drag the incoming ray to any angle between 0 and 90 degrees
Investigate optical phenomena (e.g., mirage, optical illusions, and dichromatic lens effect). 3.16	A set of Polarization lessons accompanied by interactive applets Make a permanent rainbow - Study thin film interference by making this "permanent rainbow." There is a good color calculator at the bottom of this page. (scroll down, you did arrive at the right page) Building the impossible kaleidoscope - create colors by rotating the plane of polarization (scroll down, you did arrive at the right page) Building a simple spectroscope (scroll down, you did arrive at the right page)
Distinguish between coherent and incoherent light. 3.17	Quantum Properties of Light - including lasers and coherent light
Examine the properties of lasers. 3.18	How Lasers Work - from How Stuff Works
Explore the additive and subtractive properties associated with color formation. 3.19	Electromagnetic and visible spectra Light absorption, reflection, and transmission - this tutorial includes practice questions Form white light by adding three colors of light using a click and drag applet Color addition - two questions to check understanding conclude this tutorial Color subtraction - examples are followed by a series of questions to check understanding Blue skies and red sunsets Mix light beams or paint pigments with this java applet (double right click to switch from light to paint) Shadows from overlapping colored light - This java applet let you play with shadow and image. To make it more fun, there are 3 different colors (Red/Green/Blue) light source.