PHYS.8.B

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The student is expected to compare the characteristics of transverse and longitudinal waves, including electromagnetic and sound waves;
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Knowledge and Skills Statement

Science concepts. The student knows the characteristics and behavior of waves.

a type of wave in which the particles oscillate in the direction in which the wave propagates

a type of wave in which the particles oscillate perpendicular to the direction in which the energy propagates

a disturbance or variation that transfers energy progressively from point to point with or without a medium, without transferring matter

Research

Wilhelm, Jennifer, and Jere Confrey. "Designing Project-Enhanced Environments: Students Investigate Waves and Sound." The Science Teacher 72, no. 9 (2005): 42-45. https://www.jstor.org/stable/i24138964

Summary:  The concept of waves is fundamental due to its occurrence throughout the natural world (water, sound, and electromagnetic waves). Because the concept occurs in so many places, students come to the classroom with prior knowledge, as well as misconceptions, about waves. Students have misconceptions about what is waving in a wave, what properties of the medium determine wave speed, and how waves interact with each other (Wittmann 1996).

Research

Wittmann, Michael, Richard N.Steinberg, and Edward F. Redish. "Understanding and Affecting Student Reasoning about Sound Waves." International Journal of Science Education 25, no. 8 (2003): 991–1013. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500690305024 

https://arxiv.org/pdf/physics/0207031

Summary:  Student learning of sound waves can be helped through the creation of group-learning classroom materials whose development and design rely on explicit investigations into student understanding. We describe how students can use multiple sets of resources in their thinking, and raise questions that should be considered by both instructors and researchers.