Handbook of Engaged Learning Projects
Sight and Sound in
Nature
Basic Research Questions
Basic Research Questions:
Your role as researcher for this project involves acquiring a
wealth of technical information about the ability of animals to
produce sound and the ability to perceive the world through sight and
hearing. The process of conducting a literature search should yield
some basic information about waves, wave behavior, sound, light, ray
optics, hearing mechanisms, and vision. Some basic topics for
research and ultimate discussion have been listed below to assist you
in the initial stages of your literature search. The role of this
listing is to provide an initial framework for your literature search
and not a conclusive list of topics to be discussed. Your group is
expected to go beyond these topics, exploring diverse areas of
individual interest about sight and sound in nature.
- Explain what a wave is and distinguish it from other forms of
energy transfer.
- Define and distinguish between the different ways of
categorizing waves.
- Using words and diagrams, describe the various properties of a
wave.
- Using words and diagrams, describe a variety of behaviors and
phenomenon associated with waves, including such behaviors and
phenomenon as interference, superposition, the Doppler effect, the
formation of bow waves and shock waves, diffraction, refraction,
reflection, and absorption.
- Describe the basic nature of a sound wave.
- Explain how sound waves are produced and how sound waves are
propagated through a medium such as air or water.
- Describe the various properties of sound waves and relate
these properties to the observable features of sound.
- Explain the physical mechanisms by which humans and other
animal species hear; identify and discuss some interesting
peculiarities associated with specific species' hearing ability;
associate these peculiarities with the biological habits and
behavior of these species.
- Explain the physical mechanisms by which humans and other
animal species produce sounds; identify and discuss some
interesting peculiarities associated with specific species'
ability to produce sound; associate these peculiarities with the
biological habits and behavior of these species.
- Describe the basic nature of a light wave.
- Explain how light waves are produced and how light waves are
propagated through various media and through space.
- Describe the various properties of light waves and relate
these properties to the observable features of sound.
- Discuss the electromagnetic spectrum and relate the infrared,
ultraviolet, and visible regions to the ability of animals
(including humans) to see.
- Explain the physical mechanisms by which humans and other
animal species see; identify and discuss some interesting
peculiarities associated with specific species' vision; associate
these peculiarities with the biological habits and behavior of
these species.
Return to:
Mr.
Henderson's Home Page
Glenbrook
South High School Physics Page
Author: Tom
Henderson, Glenbrook South High School, Glenview, IL.
Multimedia
Handbook of Engaged Learning Projects sponsored by
Fermi National Accelerator
Laboratory Education Office
and Friends of
Fermilab. Funded by the North Central Regional Technology
in Education Consortium
based at the
North Central
Regional Educational Laboratory
(NCREL).
Last Update: July 8, 1997
http://www-ed.fnal.gov/help/97/sightsound/sslitsea.html