Light & Spectroscopy
ACTIVITIES on Waves
*Wave Parameters - handout*
Introduction to wave vocabulary. You may use a physics book or the links below.
Explore different types of waves and wave parameters. You will want a printed copy of the worksheet. Use the ink below to the java applets Waves and Oscillations.
*Wave Theory of Light - handout, lab activity*
Recreate some of the experiments that led scientists like Huygens, Newton and Young to believe that light had wave-like properties. The online simulations below will also help you with this lab.
ACTIVITIES on Powers of 10 and Scientific Notation
This lab uses a Java applet, Powers of Ten, to let you view the Milky way from 10 millions light years beyond Earth and then zoom in an order of magnitude each timeuntil a single proton fills the screen. You will want a printout of this worksheet. The movie Powers of Ten, which can be obtained from the ROTC program upstairs, is also an excellent reference.
*Powers of 10, Scientific Notation - handouts, online tutorials*
If you have never used powers of 10 or scientific notation or need a review, you should do the following worksheets. Estimating Orders of Magnitude is an interesting exercise even for the more advanced math students (more cool estimation problems can be found online). The links provide online tutorials and practice.
Classroom Handouts:
1. Powers of Ten
2. Metric Prefixes
3. Order of Magnitude
4. Multiplying and Dividing Powers of Ten
5. Estimating Order of Magnitude
6. Scientific Notation
Online Tutuorials and Activities
1. Math Review (Metric Prefixes, Powers of 10,
Scientific Notation)
ACTIVITIES on the Electromagnetic Spectrum
What is electromagnetic radiation? In what units is it measured? What are the different types? You will want a printout of this worksheet. The link at the top is incorrect. Use the link below.
*Electromagnetic Quipu - online activity (handouts available)*
A Quipu is a knotted rope used to include data. Read the explanation under Incan Quipu. Look at the example provided of an electromagnetic quipu. Explain the code used in this quipu. How do you know? Design your own quipu including information about frequency, wavelength and energy. Include a key.
What is the speed of light in a vacuum? As you change the wavelength of EM radiation, what happens to the frequency? Play with this java applet to find out.