About Electromagnetic Radiation

Highly Recommended
Like all our Science Reasoning Center activities, the completion of the Electromagnetic Radiation activity requires that a student use provided information about a phenomenon, experiment, or data presentation to answer questions. This information is accessible by tapping on the small thumbnails found on the bottom right of every question. However, it may be considerably easier to have a printed copy of this information or to display the information in a separate browser window. You can access this information from this page. 





The Standards
Electromagnetic Radiation includes three activities that focus on the relative wavelength, frequency, and energy of the various regions of the electromagnetic spectrum and the connection of these quantities to the manner in which such waves interact with matter. Each part of this NGSS-inspired task involves a different type of skill or understanding. Collectively, the three parts were designed to address the following NGSS performance expectation:

HS-PS4-4:
Evaluate the validity and reliability of claims in published materials of the effects that different frequencies of electromagnetic radiation have when absorbed by matter.


As a whole, the questions in this task address a wide collection of disciplinary core idea (DCI), crosscutting concepts (CCC), and science and engineering practices (SEP). There are 44 questions organized into 16 Question Groups and spread across the three activities. Each question is either a 2D or (preferrably) a 3D question. That is, the task of answering the question requires that the student utilize at least two of the three dimensions of the NGSS science standards - a DCI, a CCC, and/or an SEP.


The following DCI, SEPs, and CCCs are addressed at some point within Electromagnetic Radiation:

DCI:  PS4.B: Electromagnetic Radiation 
When light or longer wavelength electromagnetic radiation is absorbed in matter, it is generally converted into thermal energy (heat). Shorter wavelength electromagnetic radiation (ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays) can ionize atoms and cause damage to living cells.
 
SEP 4.1:  Analyzing and Interpreting Data
Analyze data using tools, technologies, and/or models (e.g., computational, mathematical) in order to make valid and reliable scientific claims or determine an optimal design solution.


SEP 8.4: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Evaluate the validity and reliability of and/or synthesize multiple claims, methods, and/or designs that appear in scientific and technical texts or media reports, verifying the data when possible.


CCC 2.3: Cause and Effect
Cause and effect relationships can be suggested and predicted for complex natural and human designed systems by examining what is known about smaller scale mechanisms within the system.


CCC 3.2: Scale, Proportion, and Quantity
Algebraic thinking is used to examine scientific data and predict the effect of a change in one variable on another (e.g., linear growth vs. exponential growth).

 

 

Here is our NGSS-based analysis of each individual activity of the Electromagnetic Radiation Science Reasoning task. The core ideas, crosscutting concepts, and science and engineering practices that we reference in our analysis are numbered for convenience. You can cross-reference the specific notations that we have used with the listings found on the following pages:  

Disclaimer: The standards are not our original work. We are simply including them here for convenience (and because we have referenced the by number). The standards are the property of the Next Generation Science Standards.

 

Part 1: Energies of EM Spectrum

This activity consists of 20 forced-choice questions organized into five Question Groups. The questions target student understanding of the relationship between frequency, wavelength, energy, and ionizing ability of the various regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Students earn the Trophy for this activity once they demonstrate mastery on all five Question Groups. 


NGSS Claim Statement: Use algebraic thinking to analyze the relationship between frequency and energy or wavelength and energy for the electromagnetic spectrum in order to predict the effect of a change in one variable on another over many orders of magnitude.

 

Target DCI(s)	Target SEP(s)	Target CCC(s)
Electromagnetic Radiation PS4.B When light or longer wavelength electromagnetic radiation is absorbed in matter, it is generally converted into thermal energy (heat). Shorter wavelength electromagnetic radiation (ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays) can ionize atoms and cause damage to living cells.	Analyzing and Interpreting Data SEP 4.1 Analyze data using tools, technologies, and/or models (e.g., computational, mathematical) in order to make valid and reliable scientific claims or determine an optimal design solution.	Scale, Proportion, and Quantity CCC 3.2 Algebraic thinking is used to examine scientific data and predict the effect of a change in one variable on another (e.g., linear growth vs. exponential growth).

 

Part 2: Ionizing Radiation

This activity consists of 12 forced-choice questions organized into four Question Groups. Students are provided three statements; two are true and one is false. They must identify the false statement. Students earn the Trophy for this activity once they demonstrate mastery on all four Question Groups. 
​
NGSS Claim Statement: Evaluate the validity of multiple claims that appear in a scientific text regarding the small-scale effect of radiation on matter in living cells.

 

Target DCI(s)	Target SEP(s)	Target CCC(s)
Electromagnetic Radiation PS4.B When light or longer wavelength electromagnetic radiation is absorbed in matter, it is generally converted into thermal energy (heat). Shorter wavelength electromagnetic radiation (ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays) can ionize atoms and cause damage to living cells.	Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information SEP 8.4 Evaluate the validity and reliability of and/or synthesize multiple claims, methods, and/or designs that appear in scientific and technical texts or media reports, verifying the data when possible.	Cause and Effect CCC 2.3 Cause and effect relationships can be suggested and predicted for complex natural and human designed systems by examining what is known about smaller scale mechanisms within the system.

 

Part 3: Cell Phone Radiation

This activity consists of 12 forced-choice questions organized into six Question Groups. Students are provided two excerpts from a scientific journal on cell phone usage and cancer and must evaluate and critique the ideas that are presented. Students earn the Trophy for this activity once they demonstrate mastery on all six Question Groups. 
​
NGSS Claim Statement: Evaluate the validity of multiple claims that appear in a scientific text regarding the small-scale effect of radiation on matter in living cells.

 

Target DCI(s)	Target SEP(s)	Target CCC(s)
Electromagnetic Radiation PS4.B When light or longer wavelength electromagnetic radiation is absorbed in matter, it is generally converted into thermal energy (heat). Shorter wavelength electromagnetic radiation (ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays) can ionize atoms and cause damage to living cells.	Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information SEP 8.4 Evaluate the validity and reliability of and/or synthesize multiple claims, methods, and/or designs that appear in scientific and technical texts or media reports, verifying the data when possible.	Cause and Effect CCC 2.3 Cause and effect relationships can be suggested and predicted for complex natural and human designed systems by examining what is known about smaller scale mechanisms within the system.

 

 








Complementary and Similar Resources
The following resources at The Physics Classroom website complement the Electromagnetic Radiation Science Reasoning Activity. Teachers may find them useful for supporting students and/or as components of lesson plans and unit plans.

The Physics Classroom Tutorial, Light Waves and Color Chapter

Physics Interactives, Light and Color: Electromagnetic Spectrum Infographic

Concept Builders, Light and Color: Spectrum

Minds On Physics, Light and Color Module: Mission LC1, EM and Visible Spectrum