Crave the Wave Websites

The Science Olympiad competition Crave the Wave is a tough one. The first thing we do is build a notebook for the event, which can be brought into the competition. The kids use notebook dividers to separate the topics and then fill it with sample waves, graphs, definitions, etc. The following websites will get you started in the study of waves, whether you do Science Olympiad or not.

Waves:
Wave lesson:
http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/Class/waves/u10l1a.html

Mechanical waves:
http://www.mcasco.com/p1mw.html
http://electron9.phys.utk.edu/phys135d/modules/m10/waves.htm
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/waves/u10l1c.html

Wave interference:
http://id.mind.net/~zona/mstm/physics/waves/interference/intrfrnc.html
http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeoacw1/wave_interference.html

Doppler Wave:
http://archive.ncsa.uiuc.edu/Cyberia/Bima/doppler.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doppler_effect

Seismic Waves:
http://www.seismo.unr.edu/ftp/pub/louie/class/100/seismic-waves.html
http://www.geo.mtu.edu/UPSeis/waves.html
http://sunshine.chpc.utah.edu/labs/seismic/index.htm

Wave Reflections:
http://www.kettering.edu/~drussell/Demos/reflect/reflect.html
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/sound/reflec2.html

Wave Refraction/diffraction:
http://www.coastal.udel.edu/ngs/waves.html
http://www.walter-fendt.de/ph11e/huygenspr.htm

Wave parts:
http://id.mind.net/~zona/mstm/physics/waves/partsOfAWave/waveParts.htm

Waves and Other Physics Videos Online

An introductory resource we found for the Crave the Wave event is an online video from the PBS series The Mechanical Universe . . . And Beyond. Actually, this series covers all kinds of great physics topics.

They're written for high school to college level but the ones we viewed would also work with middle school students, especially if viewed with a parent.

You could buy the DVD's but why when you can stream online for free? Though I do admit that it would make for easier viewing on a full television screen instead of a little square on a computer screen. You could check your public library or Netflix for availibility.

Studying Waves in Science

Science Olympiad season has begun again. We started meeting with our homeschool team, Creative Science Investigators (CSI) about a month ago. We're now knee deep in our science studies.

One of the events we're preparing for is Crave the Wave. This is the study of waves. You know, light waves, sound waves, and so many more.

Today, I'd like to share a really neat website from The Physics Tutorial that would be very useful to you in your homeschool in the study of waves.

Waves and Wave-Like Motion has prepared lessons for you in the study of waves, particularly sound and light waves. The lessons are perfect for your middle school student, though they would prove useful in supplementing grade or high school lessons too.