SWU: There are 2 basic types of waves - waves that depend on the motion of matter and waves that do not depend on the motion of matter.
Vocabulary - Energy wave, mechanical wave
PS4.A: Wave Properties
A simple wave has a repeating pattern with a specific wavelength, frequency, and amplitude. (MS-PS4-1)
Vocabulary - wavelength, frequency, amplitude,
A sound wave needs a medium through which it is transmitted. (MS-PS4-2)
Vocabulary - medium, transmit
PS4.B: Electromagnetic Radiation
When light shines on an object, it is reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through the object, depending on the object’s material and the frequency (color) of the light. (MS-PS4-2)
Vocabulary- reflected, absorbed, transmitted, refraction, vacuum
The path that light travels can be traced as straight lines, except at surfaces between different transparent materials (e.g., air and water, air and glass) where the light path bends. (MS-PS4-2)
Vocabulary - transparent, translucent, opaque, ray, radiant energy, electromagnetic spectrum, photon
A wave model of light is useful for explaining brightness, color, and the frequency-dependent bending of light at a surface between media. (MS-PS4-2)
However, because light can travel through space, it cannot be a matter wave, like sound or water waves. (MS-PS4-2)
PS4.C: Information Technologies and Instrumentation
Digitized signals (sent as wave pulses) are a more reliable way to encode and transmit information. (MS-PS4-3)