Longitudinal Wave Teacher Resources

It is not a unique or exciting lesson, but rather the typical demonstrations of transverse and longitudinal waves. Use a rope for modeling transverse waves, and a plastic coil or spring toy for longitudinal waves. 

Transverse waves and longitudinal waves each have unique properties. Young scholars learn these differences, the measurements of waves, and a formula for calculating the speed of the wave. 

How does sound travel through different mediums? Scholars explore this question by creating and observing sound waves as they learn the difference between transverse and longitudinal wave motion. Using their new knowledge, class members...

In this wave worksheet, students use Slinky's to observe the properties of waves. They observe longitudinal waves, transverse waves, traveling waves and standing waves and record their observations. They calculate the frequency and...

In this waves worksheet, students compare the characteristics of transverse and longitudinal waves and then solve 5 problems.

Beautiful music doesn't just write itself, but if you ever feel bad about procrastinating, remember that Mozart wrote the overture to Don Giovanni the morning it premiered. Introduce young scientists to the elements of sound including...

Wave properties are fully explained in this easy to follow highly comprehensive video. Matt describes the differences and provides concrete examples of a pules, periodic wave, transverse wave, and longitudinal waves.

A colorful and comprehensive PowerPoint highlights this lesson on waves. Junior geophysicists pretend that they are hired to analyze seismic waves. A worksheet is provided to go along with an online article about how compact discs work...

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...

Slinkies® are a great tool for visualizing waves. Pupils work in groups to create both transverse and longitudinal waves before using a polarizer to analyze the ways they are able to travel. 

Explore transverse and longitudinal waves through a video lesson. Building on the previous lesson in the Crash Course physics series, the 17th lesson compares and contrasts transverse and longitudinal waves. The narrator includes a...

Learning about waves can have its ups and downs, but a demo-packed tool kit has the class "standing" for more! Learners gain experience with several different wave types, organizing observations and data, and wave terminology. The...

In this characteristics of waves worksheet, students answer 9 questions about the structure of waves, the types of waves and the components of waves. They describe the frequency of a wave and calculate the velocity and frequency of waves.

In this sound activity, students answer 17 questions about sound, the wavelength of sounds, the frequency of sounds, the speed of sound, the types of sound waves and the effects of the medium sound travels through on its speed.

Students observe and identify various waves. In this wave motion lesson, student use a Slinky, noise, people, and musical instruments to create waves and observe how each type of wave moves.

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....

In this waves worksheet, students read about the different types of waves and how the speed of waves is calculated. Then students complete 5 matching, 8 fill in the blank, and 9 short answer questions.

In this waves activity, high schoolers read about harmonic and linear motion in waves as well as the two types of waves. They match 5 terms to their definitions about the structure of waves, they solve for the wavelength, frequency and...

In this waves worksheet, learners define 23 vocabulary words associated with the different types of waves and how waves are measured. Students complete 23 matching terms with definitions and draw the superposition of two waves shown.

In this waves worksheet, students define different terms associated with wave properties such as amplitude, wavelength, frequency, and period. This worksheet has 10 short answer questions.

What is the net effect when two waves interfere with each other? The lesson plan answers this question by helping the class visualize waves through graphing. Pupils graph individual waves and determine the effect of the interference...

Toys are great for learning about physics. Scholars use Slinky® toys to study Newton's laws of motion and types of energy. After a little play, they then model longitudinal and transverse waves with the Slinky® toys.

Students distinguish waves from matter, differentiate between transverse and longitudinal waves, use sine curves as representations of transverse waves, label characteristic properties of waves, diagram transverse waves having specific...

High schoolers define amplitude, wavelength, frequency, and period, calculate period given frequency, and calculate frequency given period, define crest and trough and locate both on diagram of wave, differentiate between latitudinal and...