Curated OER
Physical Setting: Physics Exam 2004
Twelve pages of mostly multiple-choice questions comprise this comprehensive New York Regents physics exam. It covers an entire year's worth of physics curriculum and requires about three hours for completion. Review the questions to...
California Department of Education
What Is a "Wave"?
Take a stretch, but don't wave goodbye. An interesting resource provides everything needed to present an introductory lesson plan on waves. Teachers present a PowerPoint defining the types of waves and their characteristics. Pupils use a...
Magic of Physics
Wave Machine
Three main factors determine the wave height experienced in the ocean. Scholars use a virtual simulator to alter wind speed, fetch, and duration. Each combination creates a unique wave measured in significant height.
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network
Understanding Wave Motion - Slinky vs. Snaky: Which Spring is Dominant?
Ride the wave to an understanding of refraction! The first in a series of two inquiry-based lessons challenges learners to create transverse waves with two different types of springs. As their wave hits an object, they observe the change...
CK-12 Foundation
Stadium Wave
If you are at a sports match and the crowd starts two waves that are both headed toward you at the same time, what do you do? The simulation applies the concepts of constructive interference and destructive interference to that very...
CK-12 Foundation
Stow Lake
Does the depth of a pond matter to the waves created when rain is falling? Many people assume the answer is no, but interestingly, it does matter. Pupils explore this concept and other variables related to wave behavior through a...
CK-12 Foundation
The Marina
Breakwaters offer marinas and beaches protection from large ocean waves, but how do they work? Scholars observe wave patterns and wave amplitude during the simulation. They control the number of openings, width of openings, distance...
CK-12 Foundation
Doppler Ducks
The study of waves is not a quacking matter! Watch as a duck manipulates the behavior of its waves through its motion. Graphs show the frequency and wavelength of the waves.
Cornell University
Sometimes You Behave Like a WAVE, Sometimes You Don't!
Electromagnetic radiation behaves like both a wave and a particle. Help classes explore this concept through a lab investigation. Young scientists create optical interference patterns on a glass slide using a carbon layer. They analyze...
It's About Time
Making Waves
Young scientists use Slinkys to better understand waves. After creating and measuring many aspects of waves, they complete a handout and homework questions. The resource also introduces the final project for the chapter, though it does...
IOP Institute of Physics
Physics in Concert
What do physicists and musicians have in common? A lot more than you might think. After first viewing a slide show presentation and completing a series of skills practice worksheets on the physics of light, sound, and electricity, young...
Curated OER
Slinky Movement Lab
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...
Curated OER
Waves: Understanding the Motion of Waves
Young scholars demonstrate the motion of waves. In this wave activity, students demonstrate the various attributes to waves and the properties through a variety of hands-on activities.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12 Exploration Series: Simulations: Physics: Stadium Wave
[Free Registration/Login Required] A simulation that uses the classic sports stadium "wave" to learn about concepts important to wave motion and interference.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12 Exploration Series: Simulations: Physics: Stow Lake
[Free Registration/Login Required] Learn about the patterns of wave interference in water in this simulation.
American Association of Physics Teachers
Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Harmonics and Fourier Series
The downloadable interactive java simulation displays the sum of harmonics through a Fourier series to yield a new wave.
American Association of Physics Teachers
Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Standing Waves in a Pipe Model
A simulation that permits exploration of a standing wave inside a pipe that can be open or closed at either end. The user can adjust the number of wave nodes.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Nodes and Antinodes
In this thorough lesson, nodes and antinodes are explained and compared to crests and troughs. A "Check Your Understanding," set of questions is included at the end of the lesson with answers.
Vision Learning
Vision Learning: Physics: Waves and Wave Motion
Instructional module focusing on waves and wave motion. Discussion includes wave theories, wave basics, and wave speed. The site also includes an interactive practice quiz and links relating to the topic.
Other
Seafriends Marine Conservation and Education Centre: Oceanography: Waves
A very detailed article on the characteristics of waves and wave behavior. It discusses the influence waves have on the marine environment and the global climate, the physics of wave motion, the interactions between waves and wind, wave...
Georgia State University
Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Wave Motion
Two wave graphs depicting a sine wave and relating the various characteristics (wavelength, amplitude, frequency, and period) of a wave to each other. The site includes an interactive JavaScript form in which the visitor enters one...
Pennsylvania State University
Kettering University: The Simple Harmonic Oscillator
The motion of three simple harmonic oscillators is animated to illustrate the effects of mass and spring constant upon the motion. Several equations and a lengthy discussion accompany the animations.
University of Maryland
Thinking Problems in Oscillations and Waves: Mass on a S
A series of thought-intensive, multichoice questions from the University of Maryland concerning masses on springs. A downloadable software program on the topic is also included.
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Wave Interference
Conduct virtual experiments with water, sound, and light waves to determine the sine wave and patterns created in each.