Moving Into the Light

Honors Physics took their Sound exam today and will begin discussing the fundamental properties of light tomorrow. The first section of this chapter should be something of a review, as we touched on a lot of the information during our general overview of waves. The next section will center on mirrors, where we undertake to dissect the refelction process and how plane and curved mirrors form images.

Physical Science began a discussion on refraction today. Light is not the only wave that undergoes refraction, but it is the most prominent wave type whose refractive properties are put to good use. Tomorrow's lab will center on one use - lenses. You will investigate how a double-convex (converging) lens forms images and how proximity of lens to object influences image formation. When we finish this chapter, you will have more MCAS practice. You'll get to work through electromagnetic radiation and waves questions from prevous MCAS exams, as you have for previous topics. Remember, June is coming...although we'll do a brief review before the MCAS, you should not put off preparing for the exam until the last minute. We will be covering new information almost to the day of the test, so start independently reviewing the material and getting extra help as needed.

Physics conducted a lab on sound waves and the formation of beats. It was a good lab to review the basic features and properties of sound waves (in preparation for tomorrow's exam) and to illustrate beats and beat frequency. It was also nice to, again, see how a general equation (sine function) contributes to the understanding of real physical phenomena. That the various parameters of the function have a real-world meaning are sometimes lost unless you get to actually use the equation in lab. Data for the lab was quite good for all groups. Calculated beat frequency matched the beat frequency established by the choice of test tones; the individual tones produced well-formed sine curves that accurately predicted the frequency, period and amplitude of the wave; the physical appearance of the beats closely matched the diagrams discussed in lecture. Be ready for tomorrow - your last bite at the sound apple. Then, it is on to light...