Mississippi Science PHY.4.12

ScienceGrades 9–12Physics

The Standard

Enrichment: Research uses of the electromagnetic spectrum or photoelectric effect.

2026 Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Science · Waves

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students research one use of electromagnetic waves or the photoelectric effect. They explain how it works and support their explanation with a source.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can explain why X-rays show bone more clearly than soft tissue, or why light below a metal's threshold frequency cannot eject electrons. They can name a source that supports their explanation.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think all electromagnetic waves are ionizing radiation. Some assume brighter light will always eject electrons from a metal, even when its frequency is too low.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: Choose a bone X-ray or a photoelectric cell. Name its use, explain one property of light that makes it work, and give the title of a source you checked.

Lesson moves

Look at a lamp through a diffraction grating, sketch the color bands, and locate infrared and ultraviolet on a printed spectrum chart.
Write two sentences explaining why a bone appears clearer than muscle on an X-ray, using one fact from a hospital page.
Match radio, infrared, ultraviolet, and X-ray cards to a car radio, TV remote, sunscreen, and bone X-ray; explain each match.
Read a local UV index forecast, then find a source that explains why the forecast recommends shade or sunscreen.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to PHY.4.12, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

Keep exploring

Grade, subject, topic, and the complete standard are prefilled. Create one free, no account needed.