Learn how to make waves of all different shapes by adding up sines or cosines. Make waves in space and time and measure their wavelengths and periods. See how changing the amplitudes of different harmonics changes the waves. Compare different mathematical expressions for your waves.

Use the Sound Grapher to create visualizations of sound and learn about the frequency, wavelength, amplitude and velocity of sound waves.

See how light knocks electrons off a metal target, and recreate the experiment that spawned the field of quantum mechanics.

Broadcast radio waves from KPhET. Wiggle the transmitter electron manually or have it oscillate automatically. Display the field as a curve or vectors. The strip chart shows the electron positions at the transmitter and at the receiver.

This simulation lets you see sound waves. Adjust the frequency or volume and you can see and hear how the wave changes. Move the listener around and hear what she hears.

Overall goal of the module (reference: The standards that reflect intended Enduring Understanding)The student will:A.)  model a longitudinal (compression) wave and diagram, label, and describe the components (wavelength, compression, and frequency) (PS.6 a)B.)  explain the relationship between frequency and wavelength (PS.6 a)C.)  plan and conduct an investigation related to sound (the investigation may be a complete experimental design or may focus on systematic observation, description, measurement, and/or data collection and analysis) (PS.6 b)This module was developed by Tracey Nipper as part of a Virginia Commonwealth University STEM initiative sponsored by the Viginia Department of Education.

Students use the companion document as a standalone activity to develop a mathematical model for determining the wavelength of light using a diffraction grating.

 OVERVIEWThe Purpose of this lesson is to help students understand the concept that white light is a mixture of all of the wavelengths of the visible spectrum in roughly equal amounts. You can see beautiful colors everywhere you look! There is a lot of science behind the colors that you see. Color is the property that our eyes visually perceive and is derived from the spectrum of light. White light is a blend of all the spectrum colors which include red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. Individual colors of white light can be seen by using a prism which separates the colors and, in turn, white light can be seen when the spectrum colors are combined in such a fashion as a spectrum spinner.  Each student will construct a spectrum spinner colored with the colors of the visible spectrum in order.