Cornell Science Inquiry Partnerships Cornell University http://csip.cornell.

edu

Four Important Properties of Waves

Teachers Guide

by Thomas Oberst, CSIP Graduate Student Fellow, Cornell University

Overview
A mix of teacher demonstrations and hands-on student experiments grounded by a thought-
provoking student worksheet and a power point presentation introduce four important
properties of waves: reflection, refraction, diffraction, and interference. I consider waves to be
the most important single phenomenon in all of physics. Much of our lives rely on waves.
Everything we see is due to light waves. Everything we hear is due to sound waves. We feel
heat from infrared waves. We use cell phones, radios, and TVs which employ radio waves to
bring us closer to the rest of the world. Microwaves heat our food. And gravity waves keep the
Earth near the sun and hold the Universe together in a way that makes it possible for us to be
here. Waves are fundamental, and their presence and properties are best manifested through
reflection, refraction, diffraction, and interference.

Subject
Physical Science

Audience
6-12th grade Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science

Time Required
1-2 class periods (45-90 minutes)

Background
Students should be familiar with the basic definition of a wave, the difference between a
transverse and longitudinal wave, and amplitude, frequency, wavelength (or color), and speed
of a wave.

Learning and Behavioral Objectives

Strengthens basic understanding of general wave characteristics and teaches students about
the wave properties of reflection, refraction, diffraction and interference.

National Science Education Standards

Light; Sound; Properties of waves; Transfer of energy; Structure and properties of matter;
Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry.

Assessment Strategy
Student worksheet and experiments
Teaching Tips
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This material was developed through the Cornell Science Inquiry Partnership program
(http://csip.cornell.edu), with support from the National Science Foundations Graduate Teaching
Fellows in K-12 Education (GK-12) program (DGE # 0231913 and # 9979516) and Cornell
University. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this
material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF.