Handbook of Engaged Learning Projects

Sight and Sound in Nature

Project Information Sheet

Project:

Your project involves a study of the physics involved in the production of sound and the detection of light and sound by animal species. Technical information about the ability of animals to produce sound and their ability to perceive the world through sight and hearing will be collected by means of background readings. The behavior of light and sound waves will be experimentally analyzed using computer-interfaced light and sound probes (or a computer-interfaced motion detector for ultrasound studies) and the results will be extended to the sensory ability of various animal species.

By the end of this project, you should be able to:

• discuss with both words and diagrams the nature (description, category, physical means of creation and propagation, etc.) and characteristics (frequency, wavelength, speed, amplitude, intensity, etc.) of sound and light waves.
• discuss with both words and diagrams the behavior (reflection, refraction, absorption, diffraction, interference, Doppler shift, etc.) of sound and light waves.
• use words, pictures, and diagrams to discuss and explain the ability of specific animal species (whales, dolphins, bats, insects, frogs, etc.) to generate sound and the ecological/physical reasons for the characteristics embedded (frequency, intensity, etc.) in such sounds.
• use words, pictures, and diagrams to discuss and explain the ability of and mechanicms by which specific animal species detect sound, including the interesting peculiarities which are characteristic of certain species.
• use words, pictures, and diagrams to discuss and explain the ability of and mechanisms by which specific animal species detect light, including the interesting peculiarities which are characteristic of certain species.
• discuss a variety of animal phenomenon and peculiarities associated with sight and hearing which illustrate the physical nature of sound and light waves and the operation of auditory and optical mechanisms.
• utilize a sound probe and/or light probe (accompanied by a computer and interface box) to experimentally investigate some of the characteristics and behaviors of light and sound waves.

Your teacher will provide:

• timely guidance and advice to get (and keep) your project moving.
• suggestions for ways to find information (e.g., topics, keywords, books, videos, laser discs, etc.).
• a World Wide Web (WWW) page full of links to useful sites pertaining to your topic.
• a listing of basic research questions about your topic in order to provide initial guidance on your literature search.
• a school e-mail account and suggestions for collaboration with other students at GBS (and beyond) and with scientists who conduct research in your field.
• assistance in acquiring sound files off the WWW (and other sources) for purposes of analysis and study.
• class time to work on the project.
• equipment (Macintosh, Sound 3.01 software, Data Logger software, ULI, microphone/amplifier, sonic ranger, MacMotion software, frequency generators, Microsoft Excel spreadsheets), space to work on the project, and storage for your items.
• directions and manuals for the Sound 3.01/ULI, MacMotion, Microsoft Excel, and the ULIs.
• a set of scoring rubrics to guide your performance and to access your completed project.

The student is responsible for:

• developing a plan which involves dividing up each phase of the project into a variety of tasks and designating certain tasks as the responsibility of certain individuals.
• devoting yourself to your designated task and collaborating with others regarding the results of your efforts.
• arranging for appointments with your teacher in order to ask questions, receive advice, discuss difficulties, and discuss progress.
• a thorough and well-documented literature search which includes technical reading from scientific texts and physics books, the search of information on CD-ROMs, and the use of Internet resources; the literature search should attend to and exceed the listing of basic research questions.
• a well-defined project proposal based on background reading which includes (1) a statement of the purpose, (2) a step-by-step procedure for the analysis of sound and/or light and for the collection of data, and (3) a clearly-defined plan for interpreting experimental data and extending them to implications about sound and light in nature.
• providing a written request for needed equipment (24 hours in advance).
• a detailed and organized notebook which documents your experimental results.
• reviewing your notebook with your teacher during guidance sessions.
• the organization of charts, graphs, posters, computer printouts, clip-art, videos, CD-ROM images, QuickTime movies, WWW downloads, etc. all included in a multimedia presentation used to inform your classmates of what you did, how you did it, and what the results were.
• the production of a single word-processed report which includes a purpose, bibliography, literature survey, experimental procedure, experimental data, graphs, charts, a discussion of results, and a thorough discussion of how animals produce sound and perceive sound and light.

Some KEYWORDS to use in a literature search:

Acoustics	Bioacoustics
Audiospectrograms	Spectrograms
Marine Acoustics	Acoustical Oceanography
Sonar	Echolation
Acoustic Propagation	Acoustic Tracking
Animal Vocalizations	Niche Hypothesis
Behavioral Ecology	Sensory Perception
Wave Refraction	Wave Diffraction
Wave Reflection	Wave Interference
Optics	Sight
Vision	Perception
Hearing	Auditory Response
Whales	Birds
Dolphins	Bats
Insects

Internet Resources

Collaboration Ideas

IMC RESOURCES (placed on reserve):

General Information

A Source Book in Physics	530 M
Adventures in Physics	530 HIG
Experimenting with Science	507.8 GAR
Foundations of Modern Physics	530 HOL
How Things Work	530 CRA
Phenomenal Physics	530 SWA
Physics Projects for Young Scientists	530 GOO
The Story of Physics	530 MOT
The Project Physics Course	530 RUT
The Complete Guide to . . .	797.1 EVA

Detailed Information about your specific topic:

A Guide to Bird Songs	598 S
Sensory Biology of Sharks, Skates, and Rays	597 HOP
Sharks	597 SHA
How Animals See	591.1 SIN
Animal Navigation	591.1 WAT
Ears, Hearing and Balance	591.1 PAH
Nightwatch	591 NIG
Animal Sounds	591 MAS
The Hunters	591.5 WHI
The Life and Death of Whales	599 BUR

Other IMC RESOURCES (not placed on reserve)

Science and physics encyclopedias and reference materials

Computers and CD-ROMs

Information Sheet	Scoring Rubrics	Basic Research Qs
Internet Links	Collabor'n Ideas	Timeline

Return to:

Mr. Henderson's Home Page

Glenbrook South High School Physics Page