Contextualization

In the physical universe, phenomena are often expressed through waves - they can be heard, felt, and seen in all directions around us. A common example of waves is the sound we hear. Another example would be the lights we see, which are actually waves of electromagnetic nature. To understand the world around us, we need to understand how waves work. In this project, we will focus on studying two main types of waves: mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves.

Mechanical waves, such as sound waves or waves on a string, are waves that require a material medium to propagate. On the other hand, electromagnetic waves, such as light or radio waves, can propagate even in a vacuum. Although their sources and propagation mechanisms may vary, the behavior of waves can be described by fundamental concepts such as frequency, period, amplitude, wavelength, and propagation velocity.

To understand the fundamental role of waves in Physics, we will have to explore concepts such as reflection, refraction, diffraction, and interference. In addition, we will explore Huygens' Principle and Snell-Descartes Laws as part of this project. These concepts and laws will help us understand how waves interact with objects and mediums they come into contact with.

To make this learning more meaningful, we will connect these concepts with practical examples from the real world. Electromagnetic waves are responsible for a variety of technologies we use daily. It is thanks to them that we can see images on our televisions, listen to music on our radios, and browse the internet on our smartphones. Sound waves, in turn, have practical applications in medicine, industry, and music, just to name a few.

Practical Activity: "Exploring Waves: from Sound Waves to Light Waves"

Project Objectives

1. Understand the properties of mechanical waves through experiments with sound.
2. Explore the properties of electromagnetic waves through experiments with light.
3. Relate the theoretical concepts studied to everyday situations and current technologies.
4. Work in a team, build hypotheses, analyze results, and communicate them effectively.

Project Description

Each group of 3 to 5 students will work on two main parts of the project:

1. Mechanical Wave: Students will create a simple musical instrument to study the properties of sound waves.
2. Electromagnetic Wave: Students will carry out a series of experiments with light to explore the properties of electromagnetic waves.

Required Materials

1. Recyclable materials for building a simple musical instrument (cardboard tubes, strings, rubber bands, etc).
2. Flashlight.
3. Mirror.
4. Two transparent containers.
5. Water.
6. Pencil.
7. 3D glasses with lenses of different colors.
8. Paper and pen for notes.
9. Smartphone with internet access for research.

Detailed Step-by-Step

Part 1: Exploring Mechanical Waves with Sound

1. Each group must build a simple musical instrument using recyclable materials such as cardboard tubes, strings, and rubber bands.
2. The students will then use the instrument to investigate how variations in tension, length, and thickness of the rubber bands (or strings) affect the frequency (pitch) of the sound produced.
3. They should also relate their observations to the concept of wavelength and propagation velocity of sound.
4. In addition, they should conduct a small research to understand how the properties of sound waves are applied in music and in real musical instruments.

Part 2: Exploring Electromagnetic Waves with Light

1. Using a flashlight and a mirror, students must investigate the reflection of light and measure the angle of incidence and the angle of reflection.
2. Next, they should explore the refraction of light by filling a transparent container with water and introducing a pencil at different angles. They should observe how light changes direction when passing from air to water and relate their observations to Snell-Descartes Law.
3. Finally, they should investigate the diffraction and interference of light using 3D glasses with lenses of different colors. They should observe how light splits into various colors and relate these observations to the theory of diffraction and interference.

Project Delivery

After completing the practical parts, each group must prepare a written report containing:

1. Introduction: In this section, students should provide a context for the project, highlighting its relevance and objectives. Additionally, they should indicate the key theoretical concepts they explored during the project.

2. Development: Students must explain the theory behind the concepts explored during the project and explain in detail the activities carried out. They should describe the methodology used and present and discuss the results obtained.

3. Conclusions: Students should summarize the main points of the work, highlight the learnings obtained, and discuss the implications and applications of the theoretical concepts explored.

4. Bibliography: Students should list all sources they used to develop the project, such as books, websites, videos, etc.

Students should strive to communicate their findings clearly and concisely, ensuring that the explanation of theoretical concepts is in harmony with the observed experiences. Additionally, they should critically evaluate the significance of their findings and discuss possible improvements or extensions to the project.