Indiana Science HS-ICP4-1

ScienceGrades 9–12Waves and their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer

The Standard

Use mathematical representations to support a claim regarding relationships among the frequency, wavelength, and speed of waves. [Clarification Statement: Examples of data could include electromagnetic radiation traveling in a vacuum and glass, sound waves traveling through air and water, and seismic waves traveling through the Earth.]

Indiana Academic Standards for Science (2023) · Waves and their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer

Teacher's field guide

What This Standard Means

What Students Need to Do: Students use v = fλ to calculate wave speed, frequency, or wavelength from measurements. They use those calculations to support a claim about waves moving through different materials.
What Mastery Looks Like: Given a speed of 24 m/s and a frequency of 8 Hz, a student finds a wavelength of 3 m and shows the calculation. They explain that doubling frequency in the same material halves wavelength, while entering a new material changes speed and wavelength, not frequency.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think a higher frequency makes a wave travel faster through the same material. They may also think frequency changes when light enters glass, or that wavelength stays fixed when speed changes.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: A wave travels at 12 m/s with a frequency of 3 Hz. Find its wavelength, then show what happens to the wavelength if frequency doubles in the same material.

Lesson moves

Ways to Teach It

Stretch a slinky between tape marks, film steady waves, and measure crest spacing, shake rate, and crest travel time.
Ask, “Light slows in glass but keeps its frequency. What happens to its wavelength?” Have students justify their answer with v = fλ.
Hand partners cards showing two of three values, speed, frequency, and wavelength, and have them calculate the missing value and check units.
Give students 100 MHz FM and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi frequencies; use 3 × 10⁸ m/s to compare their wavelengths in air.

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