The Physics Classroom » Lesson Plans » Honors Physics » Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Waves and Sound

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Teacher Guides for labs can be found here.

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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 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, Vibrations and Waves: 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 Think Sheet
  3. Lab 6: Mach 1
  4. Guided and Individual Practice: Speed of Sound Think Sheet
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Vibrations and Waves: 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
  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
  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
  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
  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