Standard Area - MST:
Math, Science & Technology
- Standard - MST4: Students will understand and apply scientific concepts, principles, and theories pertaining to the physical setting and living environment and recognize the historical development of ideas in science.
- Key Idea Code - MST4.PS:
- Key Idea - MST4.PS4: Energy exists in many forms, and when these forms change energy is conserved.
- Course - MST4.C.PS4.PH:
- Academic Level - MST4.C.PS4:
- Performance Indicator - MST4.C.PS4.PH.C: Students explain variations in wavelength and frequency in terms of the source of the vibrations that produce them, e.g. molecules, electrons, and nuclear particles.
- Major Understandings - 4.3a : An oscillating system produces waves. The nature of the system determines the
type of wave produced.
- Major Understandings - 4.3b : Waves carry energy and information without transferring mass. This energy may
be carried by pulses or periodic waves.
- Major Understandings - 4.3c : The model of a wave incorporates the characteristics of amplitude, wavelength,*
frequency*, period*, wave speed*, and phase.
- Major Understandings - 4.3d : Mechanical waves require a material medium through which to travel.
- Major Understandings - 4.3e : Waves are categorized by the direction in which particles in a medium vibrate
about an equilibrium position relative to the direction of propagation of the wave, such
as transverse and longitudinal waves.
- Major Understandings - 4.3f : Resonance occurs when energy is transferred to a system at its natural frequency.
- Major Understandings - 4.3g : Electromagnetic radiation exhibits wave characteristics. Electromagnetic waves
can propagate through a vacuum.
- Major Understandings - 4.3h : When a wave strikes a boundary between two media, reflection*, transmission,
and absorption occur. A transmitted wave may be refracted.
- Major Understandings - 4.3i : When a wave moves from one medium into another, the wave may refract due to a
change in speed. The angle of refraction (measured with respect to the normal) depends
on the angle of incidence and the properties of the media (indices of refraction).*
- Major Understandings - 4.3j : The absolute index of refraction is inversely proportional to the speed of a wave.*
- Major Understandings - 4.3k : All frequencies of electromagnetic radiation travel at the same speed in a vacuum.*
- Major Understandings - 4.3l : Diffraction occurs when waves pass by obstacles or through openings. The wavelength
of the incident wave and the size of the obstacle or opening affect how the wave spreads out.
- Major Understandings - 4.3m : When waves of a similar nature meet, the resulting interference may be explained
using the principle of superposition. Standing waves are a special case of interference.
- Major Understandings - 4.3n : When a wave source and an observer are in relative motion, the observed frequency
of the waves traveling between them is shifted (Doppler effect).
