Academic Year 2024-25

Grade: MYP 3

Unit: Wave: Light and Sound

Key concept: Relationship

Related concept: Energy, Transfer & Development

Global context: Scientific and technical

SOI: Exploring the intricate dynamics of relationships reveals how energy

transfer shapes developmental processes, highlighting the crucial role of
scientific and technical innovation in understanding and enhancing these
connections.

Assessment Criterion:

B: Inquiring and designing:

i. describe a problem or question to be tested by a scientific investigation
ii. outline and explain a testable hypothesis using correct scientific reasoning
iii.describe how to manipulate the variables, and describe how sufficient, relevant
data will be collected
iv. design a logical, complete, and safe method in which he or she selects appropriate
materials and equipment

C: Processing and evaluating:

i. present collected and transformed data
ii. interpret data and describe results using scientific reasoning
iii.discuss the validity of a hypothesis based on the outcome of the scientific
investigation
iv. discuss the validity of the method
Describe improvements or extensions to the method.
What is a Wave?

A disturbance or variation that transfers energy progressively from point to point in a

medium and that may take the form of elastic deformation or of a variation of pressure,
electric or magnetic intensity, electric potential, or temperature.
Wave is a disturbance or variation which travels through a medium. The medium
through which the wave travels may experience some local oscillations as the wave
passes, but the particles in the medium do not travel with the wave. The disturbance
may take any of a number of shapes, from a finite-width pulse to an infinitely long sine
wave.

CIP Upgrade Plan - Geeksforgeeks. media.geeksforgeeks.org/wp-content/cdn-uploads/20210101201653/PDF.pdf.

What is Wave Motion?

Wave motion is the transfer of energy and momentum from one point of the medium to
another point of the medium without actual transport of matter between two points.
Wave motion is classified in three different ways they are,

• The medium of propagation,

• The dimensions in which a wave propagates energy,
• The energy transfers

Types of Waves:

Longitudinal Waves: A longitudinal wave is a wave in which particles of the medium

move in a direction parallel to the direction that the wave moves.

A sound wave traveling through air is a classic example of a longitudinal wave.

Transverse Waves: A transverse wave is a wave in which particles of the medium move
in a direction perpendicular to the direction that the wave moves.
“Physics Tutorial: Categories of Waves. “The Physics Classroom,www.physicsclassroom.com/class/waves/Lesson-1/Categories-of-
Waves.

Sources of sound:
1. Tuning Fork:

• Tuning fork is a U-shaped metallic piece with a stem in the middle. Its arms
are known as prongs.
• They are set into vibrations when any one of the prongs is struck.
Generally, tuning forks are made of frequencies that correspond to musical
notes; hence they are struck with a rubber pad only

Source: “Holy Harmony™ Solfeggio Tuning Forks.” Healingsounds.com, https://www.healingsounds.com/product/holy-harmony-

tuning-forks/.

2. Musical Instruments:

• There are several types of musical instruments that produce sound.

• For example, stringed instruments, percussion instruments, wind
instruments, etc.
• All types of instruments produce sound but in a different manner.
 Source: S3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com. (2019). [online] Available at: https://s3-ap-southeast-
1.amazonaws.com/learnhive/lcards/Types-of-Sound-523b9a13714a7.png

3. Human Sound: A human being produces sound because of the vibration of his voice
box. The voice box is also known as the larynx. The larynx is situated at the upper end
of the windpipe. There are two stretched membranes attached to the larynx; with a
narrow slit between them. When air passes through those stretched membranes they
produce different types of sound with different combinations of stretching.

Properties of sound:
1. Sound travels in form of a wave.

2. Sound is a longitudinal wave. A longitudinal wave is a wave where the movement of

the medium is in the same direction as the wave. A transverse wave is a wave where the
movement of the medium is at a right angle to the wave direction. Lightwave is a
transverse wave.
 Source: “Sound - The Science of Waves, How They Travel, How We Use Them.” Explain That Stuff, 20 Feb. 2019,
https://www.explainthatstuff.com/sound.html.

3. Sound needs a medium for propagation.

• When energy is provided to any kind of matter, the molecules start vibrating about
their mean positions transferring energy from one molecule to the next molecule.
This constitutes a sound wave. A wave is a disturbance that carries energy
without carrying the material with it.

Source: I.pinimg.com. (2019). [online] Available at:

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/dc/5d/85/dc5d8548355b79518d653abb3d8cf32f.jpg

• For example-If the string of a guitar is plucked, it starts vibrating and produces
sound waves. These sound waves carry the energy and travel in the air just like
ripples in water.

4. Sound propagates in air or gases through compressions and rarefactions and it

propagates in all directions. When sound wave travels through a medium, say air,
compression and rarefaction are produced.

5. Amplitude and frequency are two important characters of sound. Sounds

produced by different object are differentiated by amplitude and frequency of sound.
Amplitude – The distance from normal to peak is called amplitude. Since sound travels
in the form of waves, so the sound has amplitude.

Frequency: The number of vibrations or oscillations per second is called frequency.

• Frequency is expressed in hertz.

• If an object oscillates or vibrates 40 times in 1 second, then its frequency will be
equal to 40 hertz.

6. Loudness, pitch, and quality of sound.

Source: S3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com. (2019). [online] Available at: https://s3-ap-southeast-

1.amazonaws.com/learnhive/lcards/Types-of-Sound-523b9a13714a7.png

7. Speed of sound in different media

The speed of sound is different in different media. It is generally more in solids, less in
liquids, and least in gases because of more elasticity in solids.

Medium Speed of sound (m/s)

Air 330
Hydrogen 1270
Water 1450
Copper 3560
Glass 5500

Inquiry Question:

1. What are the characteristics of waves?

2. How do sound waves differ from light waves?
3. How does frequency relate to pitch in sound waves?
How sound travels:

Cognito. “GCSE Physics - Intro to Waves - Longitudinal and Transverse Waves #61.” YouTube, 15 Jan. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCu4VRKMstA.

• The sound waves travel in form of longitudinal waves.

• Sound waves can travel through all three mediums (solids, gases, and liquids)
• These waves travel in form of vibrations.
• When a sound wave travels through a medium, say air, compression and
rarefaction are produced.

Source: Images.slideplayer.com. (2019). [online] Available at:

https://images.slideplayer.com/18/5673305/slides/slide_5.jpg
Source: Choudhury, Subhendu Roy, and Andy. (2019) “Characteristics and Examples of Sound Waves.” Physics Theories Laws Basic
Concepts & Resources with All Branches, 12 Oct. 2019, https://physicsabout.com/sound-waves/.

• In the case of compression, molecules of medium come closer to each other and
in the case of rarefaction, molecules of medium go farther from each other;
compared to their normal positions.

Source: Viva. “What Are Similarities & Differences Between Longitudinal And Transverse Waves?” Viva Differences, 23 Sept. 2019,
https://vivadifferences.com/similarities-differences-between-longitudinal-and-transverse-waves/.

• As sound propagates in the form of mechanical waves it needs a medium to

travel. Sound travels through gases, liquids, and solids.
• The speed of sound is the maximum in solids, less in liquids, and the least in
gases. Sound cannot travel through a vacuum.

Inquiry Question:

1. How do sound waves travel through different mediums?

2. Is there a limit to the frequencies humans can perceive, or could technology
extend our hearing range?
3. What are the components of the human ear that aid in sound detection?
Bibliography:

Books:

• Science 3 for the international student by Rick Armstrong ( Cengage learning)

• MYP by concepts 2- Sciences -By Paul Morris and Patricia Deo

Websites:

• “Acoustics and Vibration Animations.” What Is a Wave?

www.acs.psu.edu/drussell/demos/waves-intro/waves-intro.html.

• “Physics Tutorial: Categories of Waves.” The Physics Classroom,

www.physicsclassroom.com/class/waves/Lesson-1/Categories-of-Waves.

• Velocity of Sound in Different Media | Formulas, Definition, Law.

www.toppr.com/ask/content/concept/velocity-of-sound-in-different-media-
209122/.
Videos:

• Cognito. “GCSE Physics - Intro to Waves - Longitudinal and Transverse Waves

#61.” YouTube, 15 Jan. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCu4VRKMstA.

• “Medium of Propagation of Sound | Physics | Don’t Memorise.”

Www.youtube.com, 18 Sept. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI5BDxWJ_CU.