TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: The Energy of Light
In this introduction to light energy, students learn about reflection and refraction as they learn that light travels in wave form. Through hands-on activities, they see how prisms, magnifying glasses and polarized lenses work. They also...
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Seismic Waves
Basic definitions and characteristics of the different wave types, diagrams, and speeds of the waves. Has links to information on seismology, earthquakes, and plate tectonics.
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: The Phenomenon of Sound Waves
A lab activity on sound waves is presented on this website. Students will learn about sound waves produced by different objects in this activity. There are also a set of discussion questions and two other variations of the lab exercise.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Energy Transport and the Amplitude of a Wave
The energy transport phenomenon and amplitude are explored in this lesson. Questions are found at the end of the lesson to check understanding of the concepts presented.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Using Ph Et Simulations in High School Open Ended Pendulum Labs
These labs provide examples of using very open-ended questions to guide students in exploring a simulation and designing their own experiments. These labs can lead to a high level of quantitative thinking about data analysis.
Miss Bupp's Class
Miss Bupp's Class: Waves Science Unit
Enter Miss Bupp's class as she teaches a unit on waves. This extensive unit includes lesson plans, videos, assessments, and hands-on activities to make learning about waves and their characteristics fun and engaging.
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Catch a Wave
This lesson encourages students to model a wave in a variety of ways using ropes and rubber bands. Resources included are videos of the lesson in action, a student worksheet, and examples of student work.
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Waves Performance Assessment Part 1
Students will use a variety of objects to participate in a partner activity and communicate using light and sound waves. Resources include a video, pictures and videos of the lesson in action, and examples of student work.
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Waves Performance Assessment Part 2
Learners will use tools and materials to design and build a device that uses light or sound to solve the problem of communicating over a distance. Resources included are videos of the lesson plan in action, a student worksheet, and an...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Binary Code
Students will learn how to write numbers and words in binary form in order to understand that patterns can be used to transfer information. Resources include a video explanation and examples of student work.
Read Works
Read Works: Going to the Beach!
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about all the fun things people can do at the beach. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
PBS
Wnet: Thirteen: Savage Earth: Waves of Destruction, a Tsunami Animation
View a brief animation that explains the science behind a tsunami.
Other
Southampton Oceanography Centre: Rossby Waves
This site from the Southampton Oceanography Centre provides an easy-to-understand definition and schematic of a Rossby Wave in the Introduction hyperlink. Also includes information on how to observe Rossby waves in satellite data and a...
Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology
Iris: Seismic Wave Behavior: Direct vs. Critically Refracted Graphed
Examine the behavior of seismic waves. This graph illustrates direct and critically refracted waves.
Other
Absorb Learning: Properties of Waves
An interactive introduction to the properties of waves with descriptions, animations, and questions.
Other
Byju's: Physics: Reflection of Waves
Explains what happens to a wave when it hits a fixed end or a free end.
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Practice Problems: Wave Properties From Graph 3
Determine the speed of a wave based on reading the vertical position vs. time graph simultaneously with the vertical position vs. horizontal position graph.
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Practice Problems: Wave Equation
This program asks students to determine the variables in a wave equation. Students must determine wavelength, frequency, and amplitude.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Waves: Waves and Wavelike Motion
Here is an introduction to the concept of waves and wavelike motion people experience anywhere and everywhere.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Waves: What Is a Wave?
Students examine how waves are described in a manner that allows us to understand their basic nature and qualities.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Waves: Categories of Waves
This physics tutorial helps students categorize waves based on distinguishing, observable characteristics.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Waves: Boundary Behavior
Through illustrated examples, video clips, and practice problems, students explore what happens to waves at the boundary of different mediums.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Waves: Traveling Waves vs. Standing Waves
Students discover the difference between traveling and standing waves in this physics tutorial.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Second Harmonic: Standing Waves on a String
A reference page that includes content and an animation to explain standing waves, nodes, and harmonics.