Waves and Sound (OPTIONAL UNIT)

     No matter what type of wave we will study, you'll find that it's in the nature of a wave to transport energy.  Earthquakes, music and visible light are all examples of different waves that move energy from one place to another. Whether you want to study waves in water or those that are emitted from your vocal cords, you'll always start with one thing: a vibrating object.  Ultimately, if you go on to take in the Physics 2 course, we'll use these wave concepts to understand how lenses and mirrors produce images that you perceive as vision.

Suggested timeframe: 3 weeks. Since the topics found in this unit are not covered on the AP exam, this work is an optional and should be done after the AP exam.

Big Ideas:
•The concept of force can be used to describe the interactions between objects in systems or between systems themselves.
•Energy and momentum can be transferred through wave phenomena without mass transfer.