Curated OER
Typical Conceptual Questions for Physics I - Waves, Electricity, and Magnetism
This wave and electromagnetism assignment is so thorough, it could be used as a unit exam. The first section of it covers wave concepts. The next section addresses static electricity. There is a section that deals with electric circuits....
Curated OER
Waves
An incredibly colorful PowerPoint presents all the facts and definitions about waves that you could need for beginning physical scientists. There are several useful links to online animations of wave action. This may have been produced...
University of New South Wales (Australia)
University of New South Wales: School of Physics: Physclips: Sound
Physiclips thoroughly presents the concept of sound with animations and film clips. Learn about the properties of sound and the physics behind sound waves with this site.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Mechanical Waves and Wave Types
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] By watching video clips, doing interactives, and reading text, students discover how mechanical waves transfer energy and how the waves require a medium to propagate...
Pennsylvania State University
Wave Animations: Longitudinal and Transverse Waves
This physics tutorial features text and animations explaining the particle motion of a medium through which transverse, longitudinal, or surface waves move.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Wave
An in-depth encyclopedia article from Wikipedia on waves gives a definition for what a wave is. Other content in the article includes a list of examples and characteristics of waves, information about the difference between transverse...
Other
The University of Salford: Sounds Amazing
This site has several lessons all about sound. It introduces sound, then covers major principles of waves and the wave equation. Each lesson has interactive activities to keep you interested, and there are even some test questions.
Other
Explore Science!: Longitudinal Wave
How does a sound wave travel through the atmosphere? View the animated "Scream" to see what happens. (Animation requires Macromedia Shockwave Plug-In).
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Make Some Waves
In this activity, students use their own creativity (and their bodies) to make longitudinal and transverse waves. Through the use of common items, they will investigate the different between longitudinal and transverse waves.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: The Energy of Music
Students are introduced to sound energy concepts and how engineers use sound energy. Through hands-on activities and demonstrations, students examine how we know sound exists by listening to and seeing sound waves. They learn to describe...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physical Science: Wavelength
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] What wavelength is and how it relates to the energy of a wave.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physical Science: Longitudinal Wave
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] What a longitudinal wave is, its compressions and rarefactions and what a P wave is.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: The Faultline/seismic Slinky
A lesson plan for investigating longitudinal waves by use of a Slinky toy. Directions, questions, and applications to seismic waves are provided.
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Oscillatory Motion and Waves: Glossary
This is a glossary of terms and definitions used in Chapter 16: Oscillatory Motion and Waves from the AP Physics online text.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Plix: Types of Waves: Mechanical Wave
[Free Registration/Login Required] Move the points to change the frequency and amplitude of the waves while making the waves transverse or longitudinal according to the labels.
BBC
Bbc: Gcse Bitesize: Why Do Scientists Think That Light and Sound Are Waves?
Light travels as transverse waves and can travel through a vacuum. Sound travels as longitudinal waves and needs to travel through a solid, liquid or gas. Read about the properties of light and of sound, and learn the differences between...
Energy4Me
Energy4me: Tower of Power
Young scholars will learn that heat is needed to separate crude oil/petroleum into useable substances to make the products we use every day.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Test Prep: Mcat: Physical Processes: Sound Is a Longitudinal Wave
Discusses the physics of how sound travels. Includes a video of a volcanic eruption that demonstrates the speed of sound waves.