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Essential idea: Waves interact with media and each other in a number of ways that can be unexpected and useful.
Nature of science:
Competing theories: The conflicting work of Huygens and Newton on their theories of light and the related debate between Fresnel, Arago and Poisson are demonstrations of two theories that were valid yet flawed and incomplete. This is an historical example of the progress of science that led to the acceptance of the duality of the nature of light. (1.9)
Understandings:
Reflection and refraction
Snell’s law, critical angle and total internal reflection
Diffraction through a single-slit and around objects
Interference patterns
Double-slit interference
Path difference
Applications and skills:
Sketching and interpreting incident, reflected and transmitted waves at boundaries between media
Solving problems involving reflection at a plane interface
Solving problems involving Snell’s law, critical angle and total internal reflection
Determining refractive index experimentally
Qualitatively describing the diffraction pattern formed when plane waves are incident normally on a single-slit
Quantitatively describing double-slit interference intensity patterns
Guidance:
Quantitative descriptions of refractive index are limited to light rays passing between two or more transparent media. If more than two media, only parallel interfaces will be considered
Students will not be expected to derive the double-slit equation
Students should have the opportunity to observe diffraction and interference patterns arising from more than one type of wave
Data booklet reference:
International-mindedness:
Characteristic wave behaviour has been used in many cultures throughout human history, often tying closely to myths and legends that formed the basis for early scientific studies
Theory of knowledge:
Huygens and Newton proposed two competing theories of the behaviour of light. How does the scientific community decide between competing theories?
Utilization:
A satellite footprint on Earth is governed by the diffraction at the dish on the satellite
Applications of the refraction and reflection of light range from the simple plane mirror through the medical endoscope and beyond. Many of these applications have enabled us to improve and extend our sense of vision.
The simple idea of the cancellation of two coherent light rays reflecting from two surfaces leads to data storage in compact discs and their successors
The physical explanation of the rainbow involves refraction and total internal reflection. The bright and dark bands inside the rainbow, supernumeraries, can be explained only by the wave nature of light and diffraction.
Aims:
Aim 1: the historical aspects of this topic are still relevant science and provide valuable insight into the work of earlier scientists
Aim 6: experiments could include (but are not limited to): determination of refractive index and application of Snell’s law; determining conditions under which total internal reflection may occur; examination of diffraction patterns through apertures and around obstacles; investigation of the double-slit experiment
Aim 8: the increasing use of digital data and its storage density has implications on individual privacy through the permanence of a digital footprint
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