This online resource explains sound waves and how the ear picks up sound waves from the surrounding air and turns them into nerve impulses that can be sent to the brain.

Through this series of simple hands-on activities, students will develop a basic understanding of the physical properties of waves. They will investigate and identify the "crest" and "trough" of sound, water, and light waves.

Sample Learning Goals
Make waves with water, sound, and light and see how they are related.
Design an experiment to measure the speed of the wave.
Create an interference pattern with two sources, and determine the ways to change the pattern.
Find points of constructive and destructive interference by eye and by using the detectors.
Put up a barrier to see how the waves move through one or two slits. What sort of pattern do the slits create? How can you change this pattern?
For light, predict the locations of the fringes that appear on the screen using d sin(θ) = mλ. Use the tape measure to verify your predictions.
Explain how the aperture geometry relates to the diffraction pattern.
Predict how changing the wavelength or aperture size affects the diffraction pattern.

Make a copy of this Google Drawing and edit as needed. This game is for individual students, and allows them to choose which activities they want to try. Add your own School Net test code to the bottom right box.

Sample Learning Goals
Discuss wave properties using common vocabulary.
Predict the behavior of waves through varying medium and at reflective endpoints.

In this activity, students explain how an electromagnetic wave differs from a mechanical waves. They will also investigate the relationship between frequency and vibration rate.

This lesson serves as an extension of a unit on waves that links the science of sound to the way that we hear. This lesson also investigates the role of hearing loss prevention as a way to improve public health. Students will wear earplugs while taking notes on vocabulary words, and then take a short vocabulary quiz as an exercise designed to show what it might be like to have hearing loss. Next, each student will generate a model of the process of hearing, and then complete a short group presentation on one of several hearing-related topics.