ALEX | Alabama Learning Exchange

Describing a Wave

Classroom Resource Information

Title:

Describing a Wave

URL:

https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/buac20-35-sci-ps-describewave/describing-a-wave/

Content Source:

PBS

Type:

Interactive/Game

Overview:

Students observe, compare, and describe waves, using videos and images of actual waves as well as model diagrams. This interactive lesson engages students in noticing the shape of (transverse) waves and learning how to describe and measure the amplitude and wavelength of waves.

Content Standard(s):

Science
SC2015 (2015)
Grade: 4

6 ) Develop a model of waves to describe patterns in terms of amplitude and wavelength, and including that waves can cause objects to move.

Unpacked Content

Scientific And Engineering Practices:

Developing and Using Models

Crosscutting Concepts: Patterns

Disciplinary Core Idea: Waves and Their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer

Evidence Of Student Attainment:

Students:

Develop a model of waves to describe patterns of amplitude.
Develop a model of waves to describe patterns of wavelength.
Develop a model of waves that describes patterns that cause objects to move.

Teacher Vocabulary:

Patterns
Propagated
Waves
Wave amplitude
Wavelength
Net motion
Model
Relevant components
Peaks

Knowledge:

Students know:

Waves can be described in terms of patterns of repeating amplitude and wavelength (e.g., in a water wave there is a repeating pattern of water being higher and then lower than the baseline level of the water).
Waves can cause an object to move.
The motion of objects varies with the amplitude and wavelength of the wave carrying it.
The patterns in the relationships between a wave passing, the net motion of the wave, and the motion of an object caused by the wave as it passes.
How waves may be initiated (e.g., by disturbing surface water or shaking a rope or spring).
The repeating pattern produced as a wave is propagated.
Waves, which are the regular patterns of motion, can be made in water by disturbing the surface. When waves move across the surface of deep water, the water goes up and down in place; there is no net motion in the direction of the wave except when the water meets a beach.
Waves of the same type can differ in amplitude (height of the wave) and wavelength (spacing between wave peaks).

Skills:

Students are able to:

Develop a model to make sense of wave patterns that includes relevant components (i.e., waves, wave amplitude, wavelength, and motion of objects).
Describe patterns of wavelengths and amplitudes.
Describe how waves can cause objects to move.

Understanding:

Students understand that:

There are similarities and differences in patterns underlying waves and use these patterns to describe simple relationships involving wave amplitude, wavelength, and the motion of an object.

Alabama Alternate Achievement Standards

AAS Standard:
SCI.AAS.4.6- Using given models, identify patterns found in waves.

Tags:

amplitude, transverse, wave, wave length

License Type:

Custom Permission Type
See Terms: https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/help/terms-of-use/#permitted
For full descriptions of license types and a guide to usage, visit :
https://creativecommons.org/licenses

Accessibility

Comments

PBSLearningMedia is free for teachers. Teachers need to create a free account to access all available resources.

This resource provided by:

Author:

Stephanie Carver

ALEX Classroom Resource

Describing a Wave