Notes:

Teaching Ideas and Suggestions:

This Interactive could be suitably used at just about any stage of a learning cycle on waves and sound. Numerous wave concepts are illustrated in the Interactive. For instance, the difference between wave motion and the motion of the particles of the medium are clearly illustrated. There are three red particles that are located along the medium. When a transverse wave travels through the rope, the particles of the rope vibrate about a fixed position while the disturbance travels from one end of the medium to the other. Even when viewing the simulation as a sound wave, the particles of the medium are seen to simply vibrated back and forth about a fixed position. Learners will clearly see the distinction between particle motion and wave motion - whether for mechanical waves such as those moving through a rope or for longitudinal waves such as a sound wave. Additionally, the simulation can be used to demonstrate numerous mathematical relationships such as the speed-wavelength-frequency relationships


The Physics Classroom has prepared an activity titled Exploring Waves for use with this Interactive. The Exploring Waves activity allows users to explore the following concepts:

• the distinction between wave motion and particle motion
• the nature of a transverse wave and a longitudinal wave
• the meaning of frequency, amplitude, wavelength ad speed
• the effect (and non-effect) of varying frequency upon wavelength and speed
• the independence of amplitude and wave speed

The activity ends with a multiple-choice style assessment section that highlights the key points in the activity.


Our Simple Wave Simulator is now available with a Concept Checker. Do the simulation. Then follow it up with the Concept Checker.

Related Resources

• Reading:
  Lessons 1, 2 and 3 of the Waves Chapter and Lesson 1 and 2 of the Sound Chapter of the Tutorial are perfect accompaniments to this Interactive. The following pages will be particularly useful in the early stages of the learning cycle on waves and sound:
  
  Waves and Wavelike Motion
  
  What is a Wave?
  
  The Anatomy of a Wave
  
  Frequency and Period of a Wave
  
  Energy Transport and the Amplitude of a Wave
  
  The Speed of a Wave
  
  Sound is a Mechanical Wave
  
  Sound as a Longitudinal Wave
  
  Sound is a Pressure Wave
  
   

• Minds On Physics Internet Modules:
  The Minds On Physics Internet Modules include a collection of interactive questioning modules that help learners assess their understanding of physics concepts and solidify those understandings by answering questions that require higher-order thinking. Assignments WM1, WM2, and WM3 of the Wave Motion module and assignments SM1 and SM2 of the Sound and Music module provide great complements to this Interactive. They are best used in the middle to later stages of the learning cycle. Visit the Minds On Physics Internet Modules.
  
   

• Curriculum/Practice: Several Concept Development worksheets at the Curriculum Corner will be very useful in assisting students in cultivating their understanding, most notably ...
  
  Waves
  Describing Waves
  Wave Speed
  The Nature of Sound Waves
  The Properties of Sound Waves

• Labwork: 
  Simulations should always support (never supplant) hands-on learning. The Laboratory section of The Physics Classroom website includes several hands-on ideas that complement this Interactive. Three notable lab ideas include ...
  
  A Wiggle in Time
  A Wiggle in Time and Space
  Wave Motion
  
  Visit The Laboratory.

• Science Reasoning Activities:
  Science classrooms should be filled with reasoning activities. There is two related activities in the Waves section and the Sound section of the Science Reasoning Center that will challenge students to employ close reading, data analysis, and logical reasoning. The activities are named ...
  
  Standing Waves on a Rope
  The Sound of Music
  
  Visit the Science Reasoning Center.

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