Unit 11: Sound & Light

SC.912.P.10.20 - Describe the measurable properties of waves and explain the relationships among them and how these properties change when the wave moves from one medium to another.

SC.912.P.10.1: Differentiate among the various forms of energy and recognize that they can be transformed from one form to others.

SC.912.P.10.21: Qualitatively describe the shift in frequency in sound or electromagnetic waves due to the relative motion of a source or a receiver.

SC.912.P.10.18: Explore the theory of electromagnetism by comparing and contrasting the different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum in terms of wavelength, frequency, and energy, and relate them to phenomena and applications.

SC.912.P.12.7: Recognize that nothing travels faster than the speed of light in vacuum which is the same for all observers no matter how they or the light source are moving.

SC.912.E.5.8: Connect the concepts of radiation and the electromagnetic spectrum to the use of historical and newly-developed observational tools.

• What are the fundamental properties of waves and how are they related?

• How does the composition of media affect the speed at which a wave travels?

• How are the properties of waves interrelated? 

• Pick a device that is used in your daily life to identify and describe the energy transformations that it undergoes.

• Describe how doppler shift occurs.

• How does doppler shift affect the stars we see in the sky?

• Explain how wavelength relates to wave frequency.

• Is it possible for gravitation to affect the speed of light?

• What type of electromagnetic radiation cannot be detected by telescopes on Earth? 

• If humans cannot see most of the types of light in the electromagnetic spectrum, how do we know about them? 

• What can certain technologies (Chandra, Hubble, Magnetospheric Multiscale mission, etc.) tell us about celestial objects? Why are they important?