Waves in the Universe
This unit teaches students how we study the universe- by looking at the light. We go through the properties of waves and light as an electromagnetic wave, then into things those waves have taught us- such as the expansion of the universe and other evidence for the Big Bang Theory.
Favorite Activites & Resources
Video: Cosmos Hiding in the Light
Neil de Grasse Tyson has an amazing way to captivate students, and this episode introduces the universe through the history of how we learned to study light. It is an amazing episode, and provides lots of great scenes you can relate later content back to. I purchase it on Youtube or Amazon (or find it on EdPuzzle)
PhysicsClassroom.Com Concept Builders
One of my absolutely favorite tools for ensuring student mastery- I use these in the classroom so I can walk around and help students whom need it- by seeing the red on their screen. For this unit, I use the Wave Basics, Wavelength, and Rocking the Boat.
Activity: Wave Properties
Wave vocabulary and anatomy can be pretty dry, I like using a simulation or something to teach it through an activity rather than lecture. I’ve loved the Gizmos on Waves when I have access, but there are a lot of great options- pHet and Physicclassroom.com both have options, or one of colleagues does live with strings!
Activities: Measured Stellar Parallax & Graphing the Red Shift
These two activities were stolen from our astronomy textbook. In Measured stellar parallax students learn how we measure distances in space, practicing with their two eyes and thumb against a spot on the wall (or my head). In graphing the red shift, students observe and graph the ‘shift’ of various spectrums to discover Hubble’s Law.
MiniLab: Wave Speed (slinky lab)
It's a classic physics lab using slinkies and snakies (those long skinny slinkies). In this students create waves lay them out down the hallway, make predictions, and then test how amplitude, wavelength, frequency, and density affect the wave speed or transverse and longitudinal waves. Students must be trained always to keep a hand on each end of the slinky to reduce tangles.
Perimeter Institute Resources: The Expansion of Space
Amazing source for advanced physics and astronomy lessons- for this unit and these students, I recommend The Expanding Universe. I use the videos as well as the Expansion of Space activity, but all of them could be excellent additions to your curriculum!
NGSS Standards Addressed
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Use mathematical representations to support a claim regarding relationships among the frequency, wavelength, and speed of waves traveling in various media
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Communicate technical information about about how some technological devices use the principles of wave behavior and wave interactions with matter to transmit and capture information and energy.
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Construct an explanation of the Big Bang theory based on astronomical evidence of light spectra, motion of distant galaxies, and composition of matter in the universe.