What's in a Wave - Learning Undefeated

In this experiment-based unit, What’s in a Wave?, students explore the science of mechanical and sound waves through interactive, hands-on activities. They learn to identify and model different wave types—including transverse and longitudinal waves—and investigate characteristics such as amplitude, frequency, crest, trough, wavelength, and velocity.

Students also build a working paper plate speaker, applying their knowledge of how sound waves travel and how speakers produce sound. The unit includes pre-lab learning, an engineering design challenge, and post-lab analysis of how waves change speed through different media. Throughout, students apply math and modeling to deepen their understanding of waves in the world around them.

Learning Objectives

Students will know

Transverse waves
Longitudinal waves
Mechanical waves
Electromagnetic waves
Characteristics of a wave: velocity, amplitude, frequency, crest, trough, and wavelength
Parts of a speaker
How a speaker creates sound
Sound waves change when passing through a medium, and which medium allows for the fastest or slowest travel.

Students will understand

Waves are all around us even though they cannot be seen, smelled, or felt.
Law of Conservation of Energy

Students will be able to

Build a transverse wave model
Build a homemade speaker from paper plates and magnets
Measure the decibels produced from their homemade speaker using their phones
Solve for velocity, wavelength or frequency given the value of two of the three variables.
Draw the change in a wave when passing through a medium.
Identify parts of a wave: amplitude, trough, crest, and wavelength
Differentiate between high frequency and low frequency waves
Differentiate between longitudinal and transverse waves

Standards Alignments + Connections

Next Generation Science Standards Connections

MS-PS4-1. Use mathematical representations to describe a simple model for waves that includes how the amplitude of a wave is related to the energy in a wave.

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

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills Connections

PHYSICS.7(B): Investigate and analyze characteristics of waves, including velocity, frequency, amplitude, and wavelength, and calculate the relationship between wave speed, frequency, and wavelength.

PHYSICS.7(C): Compare characteristics and behaviors of transverse waves, including electromagnetic waves and the electromagnetic spectrum, and characteristics and behaviors of longitudinal waves, including sound waves

Louisiana Standards for Science Connections

6-MS-PS2-3. Ask questions about data to determine the factors that affect the strength of electric and magnetic forces.

6-MS-PS4-1. Use mathematical representations to describe a simple model for waves that includes how the amplitude of a wave is related to the energy in a wave and how the frequency and wavelength change the expression of the wave.

Unit Plan

Pre-Laboratory Engagement (30 minutes)

Watch video on transverse and longitudinal waves.
- Wave Machine Instructions
- This video will also cover the characteristics of a wave and how to calculate a wave’s velocity.
Students complete handout to enforce learning from video and allow for mathematical practice.
- Students may watch the worksheet walk through to help them answer the questions and learn the logic behind them. The video may be supplied before or after student work is submitted.

Laboratory Activity (30 minutes)

Students watch video on presenting their engineering design challenge on homemade paper plate speakers.
Students then use their student handout to record their changes on the prototype design.
- Students may watch the worksheet walk-through to help them answer the questions and learn the logic behind them. The video may be supplied before or after student work is submitted.
  - Students can refer to this troubleshooting guide should they have difficulty executing the prototype design

Post-Laboratory Extension (30 - 45 Minutes)

Students will complete a student handout that introduces how waves change when traveling through a medium.
- They can then check their understanding with a post-lab video solving the student handout.

Keep Going! Your Students May Also Enjoy...

middle school students show off their engineering design challenge product - a bottle rocket truck

Bottle Rocket Truck (Learning Undefeated)

Students will engage in a STEM challenge to design a truck powered by a chemical reaction that will have to stop within a specific drop-off zone. Teams will be challenged with various payloads to earn bonus points if they can stop in the drop-off zone.