Made by a Science Teacher! An Interactive Scratch Tool That Finally Makes Longitudinal & Transverse Waves Click
I am Ken Kuwako, your science trainer. Every day is an experiment!
Our world is absolutely flooded with waves—sound, light, earthquakes, and even the signals for your smartphone. However, it is a well-known fact that many students find physics suddenly difficult when they transition from studying mechanics to the world of waves.
This happens because you have to completely flip your perspective. You have to move away from the idea of an object physically traveling to a new location and instead embrace the concept that only the vibration (energy) is moving forward, while the material itself stays put.
Today, I want to introduce some exhibits from the National Museum of Nature and Science and my own digital teaching tools that will help you intuitively grasp this world of waves. First, let’s observe the dynamic movement of actual waves.
The Secret of Transverse Waves: Dancing Bees
To help students visualize wave motion, I have been developing interactive tools using the programming language Scratch. I have published about 40 projects so far, and you can try them all for free on this site. Today, I want to show you one featuring bees that is perfect for beginners.
First, check out this tool for transverse waves.
The Transverse Wave Journey of the Bees
My favorite feature of this tool is the slow-motion button. When the wave travels to the right, you can clearly see that each individual bee is only moving up and down. Through the dance of these bees, you can really feel how the matter stays in place while only the energy is passed along to the next neighbor.
Solving the Mystery of Longitudinal Waves with Bee Faces
Next, let’s look at longitudinal waves (also known as compression waves), which often confuse students. Sound waves are a prime example. The struggle usually starts because we have a rule where we redraw these waves to look like transverse waves to make them easier to graph, which can be very disorienting.
Understanding Longitudinal Waves through Bee Directions
In this tool, I used the direction the bees are facing—left or right—to express the wave’s motion. By seeing which way the bees shift, you can instantly see where the air is compressed (crowded with bees) and where it is rarefied (the bees are sparse).
Mastering Graphs: Waves as Photos vs. Videos
The biggest hurdle in learning about waves is reading the graphs. It is essential to understand the difference between a snapshot of the wave’s shape at one moment (the y-x graph) and the recording of the vibration at a single point over time (the y-t graph).
Conquering Two Graphs Simultaneously
I am also preparing new tools for an even deeper understanding.
Drawing Waves One Stroke at a Time
Currently, I am planning to build a new slow-motion tool where a single pulse is released at the touch of a button. My goal is to create a way for students to perfectly grasp the relationship between wave speed, the movement of the medium (the bees), and wavelength by operating the simulation with their own hands.
Inquiries and Requests
Let’s make the wonders of science even more accessible! I have put together many fun experiments you can do at home and easy-to-understand tips for mastering them. Feel free to explore!
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