USING LIGHT PROPERTIES

TO ASSESS SOUND AND LIGHT


Basic wave theory applies to both sound and light waves.  Your mission is to collect information about waves and apply that information towards explaining an Exploratorium exhibition to your peers.
 
 

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES:

  1. To define the wave properties of frequency, period, amplitude, and wavelength.
  2. To describe wave interference.
  3. To investigate Sound
  4. To investigate Light

STUDENTS' TASK

Your mission is to become familiar with the basic properties of sound and light so that you can present the theory behind an exhibition at the Exploratorium.
 
 
 

RESOURCES

A variety of web sites.
  • To define the wave properties of frequency, period, amplitude, and wavelength.


    •  Define Frequency and Period of a Wave
     
     
     

  • To describe wave interference.

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  • To investigate Sound

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  • To investigate Light

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    PROCESS

    1. Obtain a printout of this sheet with the web site listed at the top of the page.
    2. Work through the web quest to gather the information that is necessry to evaluate sound and light waves.
    3. Compile a set of solutions to the questions asked during the webquest.
    4. Turn in your questions and wait for approval to proceed to the exploratorium.
    5. Take a virtual field trip to the exploratorium museum and pick one of the exhibitions to be used for the final phase of this project.
    6. Turn in a statement describing the project that you wish to evaluate.
    7. Prepare a presentation (posterboard, written summary, etc) which can be placed in the lab and viewed by other students.
    8. Present a 5 minute summary to your peers, describing the exhibit and what properties of sound or light are necessary to explain the science of your project.

    CONCLUSIONS

    This project will help direct you to the pertinent information that you will need to authentically assess a real exhibit at the Exploratorium Museum in San Francisco.