NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  Unit: Physical Science -- Waves and
  Optics

  Grade Levels: 4-6

  Connection To Curriculum:
  Science and Mathematics

  Teacher Prep Time: 1 hour

  Lesson Time Needed: 3.5 hours

  Complexity: Moderate

Materials:

20 ft rope
tape measure
stopwatch
adding machine tape
set of red, green and violet pencils
meter stick or ruler
manila folder or cardstock
4 books
1 pair scissors
diffraction grating
paper tube (toilet paper roll)
poster board 5 x 10 cm
masking tape
2 razor blades
Spectrum tubes (if possible)
Doppler effect demonstrator
   OR
plastic whiffle ball
microswitch
buzzer
battery
cord (3 m)

Description
This lesson integrates a series of activities to introduce the measurement of waves. Activities guide the students to explore the relationship between frequency and wavelength and apply it to explain the Doppler effect.

Objectives
Students will:
• Explore the relationship between frequency and wavelength.
• Demonstrate the Doppler effect using sound and extend the concept to light.
• Use the frequency-wavelength relationship and Doppler effect to explain NASA's research in astronomy.

Lesson Guide Wave Measurements Lesson [76KB PDF file]

Professional Development Training Module for This Lesson

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Lesson Activities and Sequence
The listed sequence leads students from the basic relationship between wavelength and frequency to its application in explaining the Doppler effect.

1. Wavelength and Energy
   Students will be introduced to the relationship between frequency, energy and wavelength using a rope, tape measure and stopwatch.
2. What's the Frequency, Roy G. Biv?
   Students create a physical model comparing the wavelengths and frequencies of red, green and violet light on adding machine tape.
3. Introduction to the Electromagnetic Spectrum
   This five-minute video helps reinforce the relationships found by the student teams with animations and physical data.
4. Simple Spectroscope
   Students build a simple spectroscope using a toilet paper tube and diffraction grating then use the scope to observe the spectra of different light sources and draw their observations on a provided worksheet.
5. Red Shift, Blue Shift
   In this culminating activity, students get a chance to apply their understanding of the relationship between wavelength and frequency to explain the Doppler effect, first in sound and then in electromagnetic waves.

National Standards: