SOund and Light waves

SOund and Light waves

by Anita Ingram

Where is the thunder?

Have you ever been listening to a thunderstorm and wondered how far away it is? Well it turns out there are tricks for measuring that. Let’s first consider part of how thunderstorms work. In a thundercloud, the lightning and thunder occur at the same time. The light from the lightning bolt travels so fast (200,000 miles per second) that it takes almost no time at all to reach your eye. Thus you see the lightning at nearly the instant it occurs. On the other hand, the sound from the thunder travels more slowly, taking about 5 seconds to go each mile. Therefore you hear the thunder a bit later compared to when it occurred. If you do some math, you can determine that thunder that occurs 5 seconds after the light is about 1 mile away. If it arrives 10 seconds later, the storm is 2 miles away. The general rule is this: count how many seconds between the lightning and the thunder. Divide this number by 5 and now you have the number of miles! 

Open Ended

What are the two main types of waves that are generated in a thunderstorm? 

Open Ended

Which wave has a faster speed? Explain how you know using evidence from the text. 

Multiple Choice

What is a measure of the amount of wave cycles that pass a point in one second? 

• Frequency

• Pitch

• Decibel

• Noise

Multiple Choice

A wave is shown in the diagram above. The section of the wave between which two points represents one wavelength?

• A and B

• A and C

• A and D

• C and D

Multiple Choice

How are the electromagnetic waves produced by a spotlight and the sound waves produced by tuning forks similar? 

• Both waves require a medium to travel through. 

• Both waves have high frequencies. 

• Both waves transport energy 

• Both waves are matter waves

Open Ended

You are executing an experiment to determine if the volume at which you play a sound impacts the amount of time it takes for the sound to reach a receiver 50 feet away. (Tip: Sound is measured in a unit called decibel)

What is Independent Variable?

Open Ended

You are executing an experiment to determine if the volume at which you play a sound impacts the amount of time it takes for the sound to reach a receiver 50 feet away. (Tip: Sound is measured in a unit called decibel)

What is Dependent Variable?

Open Ended

You are executing an experiment to determine if the volume at which you play a sound impacts the amount of time it takes for the sound to reach a receiver 50 feet away. (Tip: Sound is measured in a unit called decibel)

What units should we use to measure Iv and dv (they are different) Dependent ?

Open Ended

You execute the experiment and collect the data shown below. Based on this data, what is the relationship between the IV and the DV?

Open Ended

Based on your findings above, does the amplitude of a sound wave have any impact on the speed of that wave? Explain how you know. 

Open Ended

Compare and contrast mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves. In your answer give one similarity, one difference, and one example of each.  

Open Ended

Explain why we can see light in space but we cannot hear sound in space. Talk about both light and sound in your answer.  You must defend your answer to receive full credit.