The Physics Classroom » Lesson Plans » Algebra Based Physics » Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Waves and Sound

The lesson plans below include links to the specific resources on our website.

Teacher Guides for labs can be found here.

NOTE: All CalcPad problem sets are customized problem sets created specifically for this course. The links direct users to the Guest version. Task Tracker users should use the link on the Task Tracker page to the trackable CalcPad version.  

Day 1 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Introduce unit
  2. Lab 1: A Wiggle in Time
    Do and process; emphasize a vibration is a repeating and periodic disturbance of an object about an otherwise fixed position
  3. Discuss/define: period, frequency, and amplitude; damping; position and velocity vary as a function of time in a sinusoidal manner 
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Vibrations and Waves: Lesson 0, Parts a and b
  2. Concept Builder: Frequency and Period



 

Day 2 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Lab 2 - A Wiggle in Time and Space
    Do and process; a vibration is a wiggle in time. A wave is a collection of wigglers ... a wiggle in time extended across space.
  2. Discuss the nature of a wave and categories of waves (longitudinal vs. transverse; mechanical vs. EM)
  3. Pair Practice: Waves Think Sheet
  4. If time allows, Minds On Physics: Mission WM1 on Nature and Categories of Waves
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Vibrations and Waves: Lesson 1, Parts a, b, and c
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission WM1 on Nature and Categories of Waves


 

Day 3 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Discuss Wave Properties (frequency, period, wavelength, amplitude, speed)
  2. Describing Waves Think Sheet
  3. Physics Interactives: Simple Wave Simulator with Student Activity Sheet
    Do and process; assign accompanying Concept Checker
  4. If time allows, do Concept Checker: Simple Wave Simulator
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Vibrations and Waves: Lesson 2, Parts a, b, and c
  2. If not done in class, complete Concept Checker: Simple Wave Simulator



 

Day 4 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Discuss Wave Speed
    Definition, units; v=d/t and v=f•λ; depends on properties of the medium
  2. Pair Practice: Wave Speed Think Sheet
  3. Lab 3 - Speed of a Wave
    Do as a demo lab if equipment is limited or to insure best results
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Vibrations and Waves: Lesson 2, Parts d and e
  2. Concept Builder: Wave Basics




 

Day 5 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Physics Interactives: The Boundary Behavior of Waves with Student Activity Sheet
    Do and process
  2. Pair Practice: Boundary Behavior Think Sheet
  3. Concept Checker: Boundary Behavior
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Vibrations and Waves: Lesson 3, Parts a and b
  2. Minds on Physics: Mission WM5 on Boundary Behavior of Waves




 

Day 6 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Physics Interactives: Wave Addition with Student Activity Sheet
    Do and process 
  2. Pair Practice: Interference of Waves Think Sheet
  3. Concept Checker: Wave Addition
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Vibrations and Waves: Lesson 3, Part c
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission WM6 on Interference of Waves



 

Day 7 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Demonstrate/Discuss Standing Wave Patterns
    Animation of how they are formed: https://www.desmos.com/calculator/xgq0tckhyz
    Patterns, nodes, antinodes, wavelength-length relationship, harmonics; frequency relationships
  2. Guided/Individual: Standing Wave Mathematics Think Sheet
  3. Minds On Physics: Mission WM7 on Standing Wave Patterns and Harmonics
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Vibrations and Waves: Lesson 4, Parts c, d, and e
  2. CalcPad - Waves and Sound 1: Wave Properties




 

Day 8 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
Review day: this is a chance for students to process the many concepts that have been thus far presented in the unit. These concepts will form the basis of understanding sound waves in the remaining days of the unit. Pick and choose from some of our suggestions:
  1. Concept Builder: Wave Characteristics
  2. Concept Builder: Wavelength
  3. Concept Builder: Rocking the Boat
  4. Concept Builder: Waves - Case Studies
  5. Concept Builder: Wave Interference
  6. Minds On Physics: Mission WM3 on Speed of a Wave
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. CalcPad - Waves and Sound 2: Standing Wave Math




 

Day 9 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Science Reasoning Center: Sound as a Pressure Wave
  2. Discuss Sound Waves
    Mechanical, longitudinal, pressure wave; produced by vibrating objects; pressure plots; compressions and rarefactions, wavelength; frequency and pitch; amplitude and intensity; relationship to loudness; demonstrations
  3. Pair Practice: The Nature of Sound Waves Think Sheet
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Vibrations and Waves: Lesson 1, Parts a, b, and c
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission SM1 on The Nature of a Sound Wave




 

Day 10 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Review properties of sound waves
  2. Pair Practice: Properties of Sound Think Sheet
  3. Lab 4: Speed of Sound
  4. Guided and Individual Practice: Speed of Sound Think Sheet
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Vibrations and Waves: Lesson 2, Parts a and c
  2. CalcPad - Waves and Sound 3: Sound Properties




 

Day 11 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Discuss sound intensity, decibel scale, examples
  2. Pair Practice: Sound Intensity and the Decibel System Think Sheet 
  3. Concept Builder: Decibel Scale
  4. If time allows: Minds On Physics: Mission SM3 on Intensity and the Decibel Scale
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Sound Waves and Music: Lesson 2, Part b
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission SM3 on Intensity and the Decibel Scale




 

Day 12 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Lab 5: Natural Frequency and Standing Waves
    Requires sound interface probes OR our Sound Spectrum Viewer in FFT Mode
  2. Discuss natural frequency, forced vibrations, resonance; review harmonics and standing wave patterns; "fundamental frequency"; demonstrations. Use Resonance Think Sheet
  3. Pair Practice: complete Resonance Think Sheet
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Sound Waves and Music: Lesson 4, all Parts
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission SM5 on Resonance and Standing Wave Patterns




 

Day 13 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Discuss stringed instruments; use Resonance and Guitar Strings Think Sheet: #1-3
  2. Pair Practice: complete Resonance and Guitar Strings Think Sheet
  3. Concept Builder: Name That Harmonic - Strings
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Sound Waves and Music: Lesson 5, Parts a and b
  2. CalcPad - Waves and Sound 4: Resonating Strings




 

Day 14 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Discuss closed end air columns; use Resonance and Closed-End Air Columns Think Sheet: #1-3
  2. Pair Practice: complete Resonance and Closed-End Air Columns Think Sheet
  3. Lab 6: Closed-End Air Columns
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Sound Waves and Music: Lesson 5, Part d
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission SM10 on Harmonics for Closed-End Air Columns




 

Day 15 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Review closed-end mathematics; more practice
  2. Concept Builder: Name That Harmonic - Closed-End Air Columns
  3. Discuss open-end air columns; use  Resonance and Open-End Air Columns Think Sheet: #1-3
  4. Pair Practice: complete Resonance and Open-End Air Columns Think Sheet
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Sound Waves and Music: Lesson 5, Part c
  2. CalcPad - Waves and Sound 5: Resonating Air Columns




 

Day 16 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
  1. Review air column resonance
  2. Lab 7: Open-End Air Columns
  3. Concept Builder: Name That Harmonic - Open-End Air Columns
  4. CalcPad - Waves and Sound 6: Resonating Air Columns
 
Homework/Announcements
  1. Complete CalcPad - Waves and Sound 6: Resonating Air Columns



 

Day 17 of Vibrations, Waves, and Sound

Lesson Plan
Review day: this is a chance for students to process ideas, work independently or together, and prepare for exam. Suggested online review activities include:
  1. Physics Interactives: Standing Wave Maker with Student Activity Sheet
  2. Accompanying Concept Checker: Standing Wave Maker
  3. Minds On Physics: Mission WM2 on Wave Characteristics
  4. Minds On Physics: Mission SM8 on Harmonics for Open-End Air Columns
  5. CalcPad - Waves and Sound 7: Review
  6. The Review Session - Waves
  7. The Review Session - Sound Waves and Music
 
​NOTE: The above assignments are intended as optional review assignments and not required assignments.

Homework/Announcements
  1. Prepare for Tomorrow's Test
  2. Complete all unfinished work