Waves are regular patterns of motion that transfer energy from place to place without transferring matter. Waves exhibit repeating patterns.

When talking about waves, amplitude is the height of the wave (above its resting point). How tall or short a wave is.

Wavelength is the distance from the peak of one wave to the peak of the next wave.

How does sound move from one place to another? Explain and/or draw a picture.

Sound is not visible, but it travels as a longitudinal wave that causes air particles to vibrate. The particles vibrate in the form of a wave as the sound travels through the air.

Do waves transfer matter?

Waves transfer energy, not matter.

When Zoe and Izzy demonstrated waves using the slinky, which type of wave did they observe?

Zoe and Izzy use the spring to demonstrate both transverse and longitudinal waves. Water waves are transverse waves and sound waves are longitudinal waves.

Why does the salt vibrate on the speaker when the music is turned on?

When the music is turned on sound waves cause the salt to vibrate just like sound waves cause air particles to vibrate.

Why can’t sound be heard when the phone playing music is placed inside the vacuum jar? Explain what you think is happening.

When the phone playing music is placed inside the vacuum jar and the vacuum is turned on, all of the air is removed from the jar. Since there are no air particles for the sound waves to travel through, the sound cannot be heard even though the music is still playing.

What kinds of patterns can be observed for transverse waves?

Transverse waves are a repeating pattern of peaks and troughs. This pattern remains the same although changes to the energy cause the peaks and troughs to get closer together or further apart (wavelength) or the peaks and troughs to be higher or lower (amplitude).

What kinds of patterns can be observed for longitudinal waves?

Longitudinal waves are a repeating pattern of compression and expansion. This pattern remains the same although changes to the energy causes the compressed areas to become closer together or further apart (wavelength).

How does increasing energy affect the amplitude of a wave?

Adding energy to a transverse wave causes the wave to become taller (amplitude increases).

How does increasing energy affect the wavelength of a wave?

Adding energy to a wave causes the wavelength to become shorter, meaning the waves are closer together (wavelength decreases).

Wave Properties

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Wave Properties

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What you will learn from this videoWhat you will learn

Waves are one way energy is moved from place to place.
Amplitude is the height of the wave.
Wavelength is the distance between wave peaks.
The sound we hear is a type of wave that travels through the air.

Discussion Questions
- Before Video
  What are waves?ANSWER
  - Waves are regular patterns of motion that transfer energy from place to place without transferring matter. Waves exhibit repeating patterns.
  What is amplitude?ANSWER
  - When talking about waves, amplitude is the height of the wave (above its resting point). How tall or short a wave is.
  What is wavelength?ANSWER
  - Wavelength is the distance from the peak of one wave to the peak of the next wave.
  How does sound move from one place to another? Explain and/or draw a picture.ANSWER
  - Sound is not visible, but it travels as a longitudinal wave that causes air particles to vibrate. The particles vibrate in the form of a wave as the sound travels through the air.
- After Video
  Do waves transfer matter?ANSWER
  - Waves transfer energy, not matter.
  When Zoe and Izzy demonstrated waves using the slinky, which type of wave did they observe?ANSWER
  - Zoe and Izzy use the spring to demonstrate both transverse and longitudinal waves. Water waves are transverse waves and sound waves are longitudinal waves.
  Why does the salt vibrate on the speaker when the music is turned on?ANSWER
  - When the music is turned on sound waves cause the salt to vibrate just like sound waves cause air particles to vibrate.
  Why can’t sound be heard when the phone playing music is placed inside the vacuum jar? Explain what you think is happening.ANSWER
  - When the phone playing music is placed inside the vacuum jar and the vacuum is turned on, all of the air is removed from the jar. Since there are no air particles for the sound waves to travel through, the sound cannot be heard even though the music is still playing.
  What kinds of patterns can be observed for transverse waves? ANSWER
  - Transverse waves are a repeating pattern of peaks and troughs. This pattern remains the same although changes to the energy cause the peaks and troughs to get closer together or further apart (wavelength) or the peaks and troughs to be higher or lower (amplitude).
  What kinds of patterns can be observed for longitudinal waves?ANSWER
  - Longitudinal waves are a repeating pattern of compression and expansion. This pattern remains the same although changes to the energy causes the compressed areas to become closer together or further apart (wavelength).
  How does increasing energy affect the amplitude of a wave?ANSWER
  - Adding energy to a transverse wave causes the wave to become taller (amplitude increases).
  How does increasing energy affect the wavelength of a wave?ANSWER
  - Adding energy to a wave causes the wavelength to become shorter, meaning the waves are closer together (wavelength decreases).
Vocabulary
- Amplitude DEFINE
- Wavelength DEFINE
- Energy DEFINE
- Wave Peak DEFINE
- Sound Waves DEFINE
- Transverse Wave DEFINE
- Longitudinal Wave DEFINE
- Particle DEFINE
Reading Material
DIY Activity Guide
Lesson Plan
Lesson Plan
Teacher Guide
Assessment
Google Forms Online Quiz Game Quiz PDF Exit Ticket