MS - PS4.B (C, D) - Modeling Electromagnetic Waves - ASSIGNED (RC 3/4/2014)

Module: Modeling Electromagnetic Waves

DCI: PS4.B (C) A wave model of light is useful for explaining brightness, color, and the frequency -dependent bending of a light at a surface between media.

DCI: PS4B (D) However, because light can travel through space, it cannot be a matter wave, like sound or water waves.

PE: MS-PS4-2 Develop and use a model to describe that waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials.

[Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on both light and mechanical waves. Examples of models could include drawings, simulations, and written descriptions.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment is limited to qualitative applications pertaining to light and mechanical waves.]

The ideas in this standard are: 

- the wave model of light can explain brightness, color, and the frequency-dependent bending of light at the surface between media 

- light travels through space, so it is not a matter wave like sound or water waves

We can ask general questions about how the characteristics of the light wave relate to its properties.  (Higher frequency = shorter wavelength, etc.) When a beam of light goes between media, the wavelength changes but the frequency remains the same (causing the light to bend - refraction). Amplitude is related to brightness of the light. They might be beginning to reference the wave-particle duality of light.  But, let's not go there with this batch. We can work the PE in, too, by asking about how a characteristic of a wave might change, or not change, as it is reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through materials. 

Possible Question Starters: 

- We can do two diagrams, one with a shorter amplitude and one with a taller amplitude, and we can ask basically, how the first light wave will be different from one point to the next. 

correct answer - brightness

incorrect answer - color, direction

- A question about a prism and/or a rainbow would be a way to get at the idea of frequency-dependent behavior.

- It seems to me that we could ask which characteristic of light (behavior?) provides evidence that it is not matter.
correct answer = moves through space
incorrect answers = can be absorbed, bounces off objects