Waves

Wave Properties

​A simple harmonic motion lab framed as an engineering design project where students are responsible for the procedure to accomplish a task
​A guided investigation lab on wave properties using the Wave on a String simulation from PhET
​​Using thermal putty to locate the antinodes of a standing waves in a microwave to confirm the speed of light
Using sound waves to trap/levitate objects and visualize standing waves
​Walk around activity with questions about period/frequency, types of waves, and using the wave speed equation

Sound

​Printable transparencies to overlay and demonstration total wave destruction in longitudinal waves
​Measuring the speed of sound with a crude time delay experience
​Using "domino waves" as a visible model to help explain how the medium affects the speed of sound 
Tutorial on how to build an "ear switcher" that uses speed of sound to trick the brain
​Investigating the mathematical model relating the frequency of a glass instrument to the amount of water inside the glass

Light

Series of labs investigating the mathematical models for refraction due to a medium change and diffraction in double slit experiment.
Using a green laser to ignite a match
Using phone cameras and thermal imaging to make infrared light visible
"Painting" designs on glow-in-the-dark materials using ultraviolet light
Visualizing microwaves by microwaving a fluorescent light bulb
Hands-on investigation with wave transparencies to test the mathematical model of the double slit experiment
Using polarized filters to create a "Pirate Effect" for someone wearing 3D glasses
Tutorial on how to create a "magic screen" that only reveals the image through a polarized filter.