STEM Tuesday

STEM Tuesday– Radio/UV Waves and Applied Physics — Writing Tips and Resources

Catch a Wave!

(This post was originally a STEM Tuesday Spin-Off guest post for the Middle Grade Book Village blog. It fits with this month’s theme of Radio/UV Waves – Applied Physics so I’m recycling it for my Writing Tips & Resources post.)

In STEM Tuesday Spin-Off, we look around at the things in life we often take for granted. We peer behind the curtain, search underneath the hood for the STEM principles involved, and suggest books and/or links to help build an understanding of the world around us. The common, everyday thing will be the hub of the post, and the “spin-offs” will be the spokes making up our wheel of discovery. As our former STEM Tuesday Writing Tips & Resources partner, Heather L. Montgomery often says, we’ll “Go deep!” on a common subject and take a look at its inherent STEM components. 

Today, we will take a closer look at something that is always with us and affects the life of the average 8-14-year-old.

Waves!

Shalom Jacobovitzderivative work: Brocken Inaglory ([[User talk:Brocken Inaglory|talk]]) [CC BY-SA]

The Hub: Waves

Waves, dude! They’re awesome. Riding a wave, either on a board or by body, is exhilarating. Throwing a rock into a calm lake or pond to watch the wave patterns is pretty entertaining and tossing in another rock or two to watch the wave patterns interact takes it to a whole new level. 

Wave motion is pretty cool. The waves created by a sheet flapping in the breeze or the waves generated with a length of rope or a Slinky toy give us hours of entertaining observation. Waves provide both satisfaction from their aesthetic and their physical principles. In short, waves rock!

As cool as the above waves are, there are multitudes of waves in constant motion around us every day and we don’t even need to hit the beach to enjoy them. We notice some of these waves, while others we don’t notice. Yet these waves profoundly affect our modern life every second of every day.  

In today’s Catch a Wave Edition, we’ll talk about these sound and electromagnetic waves and introduce some spin-off resources to learn more and dig deeper into STEM. There are waves all around us, light waves, sound waves, radio waves, microwaves, other electromagnetic waves, and, may I add, waves of middle-grade academic enthusiasm.

Spoke 1: Sound Waves

Sound waves are mechanical waves created by the vibration of a source. The vibrations create longitudinal waves consisting of regions of high pressure and low pressure called compressions and rarefactions that mimic the source vibration. A sound wave must travel from one place to another in a medium and cannot move through a vacuum. 

Sound wave in a cylinder. via Wikimedia Commons.

Transverse Waves

The remaining Spin-Off Spokes are all transverse waves of the electromagnetic spectrum. One of the amazing things about electromagnetic waves is they are a single physical phenomenon that can be separated into types by the characteristic properties associated with their frequency and wavelength.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is em-spectrum-nasa_-wikimedia-commons.jpg

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is longitudinal-and-transverse-waves-1.png

Electromagnetic wave shape is the more familiar wave shape of crests and troughs, called a sine wave. Transverse waves of the EM spectrum travel at the speed of light in a vacuum.

Spoke 2: Radio Waves

We are all familiar with radio. Turn it on, crank it up, and dance down the hallway on the way to the lunchroom. Radio rocks! Let me tell you, that box that plays our favorite tunes is only a mere sliver of the pure awesomeness of radio waves. Radio waves are the do-it-all, blue-collar, workman of the physical world. Sound, data, and video can be pulsed (modulated) onto a radio wave carrier, transmitted great distances through an antenna, and received by another antenna. A receiver then separates (demodulates) the original signal from the carrier wave and transmits it to an output device.

Let’s say I want to play my wicked new surf guitar solo to a friend who lives six hours away. First, I create the sound into a microphone by playing my new jam. The microphone transforms the vibration of the longitudinal sound wave from the guitar strings into an electromagnetic wave which then gets pulsed/modulated onto a radio wave or microwave. The message on the carrier wave is sent by my antenna great distances at the speed of light until it reaches my friend’s antenna. The antenna catches my message, and the electromagnetic wave is decoded/demodulated from the carrier and sent to a speaker where it is transformed back into a sound wave. Next thing you know, my friend is rocking out to my surf guitar solo. All is good in the world.

A low-frequency message signal (top) may be carried by an AM or FM radio wave.

Look around your school or classroom, there are probably devices on the ceiling or on a table all around that are constantly modulating and demodulating data for your computers and Wi-Fi networks. MOdulating and DEModulating, MOdulating and DEModulating, MOdulating and DEModulating. (Isn’t “modem” an exceptional portmanteau of “modulator-demodulator”?) Did you know that’s what your modem does? Radio waves and microwaves are the carriers of modern life. Technology doesn’t go anywhere without them.

Spoke 3: Microwaves

Microwaves do more than make popcorn or heat up that frozen burrito. With higher energy and higher frequency wave than a radio wave, a microwave can penetrate obstacles that radio waves can’t. Some of the non-food functions of microwaves overlap with the functions of radio waves and the daily utility of these may surprise you. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, satellite radio, amateur radio, weather radar, and some broadcasting and communications transmissions, to name a few, are all microwaves. See what I mean? Microwaves make life better, and the bag of popcorn popped in two minutes is truly a bonus.

A satellite dish receives satellite television over a Ku band 12–14 GHz microwave beam from a direct broadcast communications satellite in a geostationary orbit 35,700 kilometers (22,000 miles) above the Earth.

Spoke 4: Infrared Waves

Infrared is such a cool sounding word, science fiction level cool in my book. In reality, though, it simply means “below red”. Infrared waves are often associated with heat, especially the longer wavelength end of the spectrum. These heat waves are given off by fire, heat lamps, and the sun. On the opposite end, the shorter infrared wavelengths don’t give off much heat but do function in one of mankind’s greatest inventions—the remote control! Automatic doors, heat sensors, and night-vision technology are just a few ways we interact with infrared waves in our daily life. Now, where did I put that TV remote?

IR thermography helped to determine the temperature profile of the Space Shuttle thermal protection system during re-entry.

Spoke 5: Visible Waves

We are all familiar with the visible spectrum of electromagnetic waves. They’re the ones we can see and account for the rainbow of colors detected by our eyes. The different frequencies of visible waves are either absorbed or reflected by an object. If the reflected waves are at the longer wavelengths of the visible spectrum, 625-740 nm, the light is red. If the reflected waves are at the shorter end of the spectrum, 380-450 nm, the reflected light is violet. Everything we can see and the multitude of colors originate from the electromagnetic waves of the visible spectrum. You may also have heard about fiber-optic cables used for communication. Fiber optics contain light waves that carry data much like radio and microwaves. Without the visible wave spectrum, we would spend most of our time in the dark.

Spoke 6: Ultraviolet Waves

If the word “infrared” wasn’t cool enough for you, may I present “ultraviolet”? In reality, it’s just an awesome way to say “beyond violet”. Besides the level of word coolness, ultraviolet waves themselves are pretty dang awesome. UV waves are emitted by high-temperature objects, like stars, and help astronomers learn more about how the galaxies are put together. Just as “beyond violet” suggests a deeper shade of purple, ultraviolet waves have their own dark side. UV rays emitted by our sun are the cause of sunburns and prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation can cause cancer by changing our DNA.

Of course, there are also the UV rays of lower frequencies emitted from a blacklight bulb which we all know make the school dances spectacular events for white clothing clad individuals.

NASA image of Mira’s bow shock & hydrogen gas tail in ultraviolet, rendered in blue-visible light.

ROUGE WAVES?

There are two additional wave types in the electromagnetic spectrum. These waves, however, are ones you don’t want to expose yourself to regularly. 

X-rays are high-energy waves naturally produced by high-temperature sources, like the sun’s corona. We may be more familiar with medical imaging equipment that uses the power of X-rays to view bone structure. There’s a good reason the radiology technician wears a lead apron for protection while performing X-rays—too much exposure to X-rays can cause serious health problems.

The second waves to avoid are gamma waves. Gamma waves are such high frequency/short wavelength they can pass through the space of a single atom! Unfortunately, they can also destroy living cells. Gamma waves are mainly formed by high-energy objects in space and are absorbed by the Earth’s atmosphere. Lightning, nuclear explosions, and radioactive decay are sources on Earth that can produce gamma rays.

Franquet T., Chung J.H. [CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)]

Wrap-Up

The final waves needing recognition are the waves of middle-grade enthusiasm and, in particular, the waves of middle-grade enthusiasm for STEM. Keep riding the STEM wave and asking questions about how our world works.

Hopefully, I’ve given you at least six good reasons to appreciate the physical phenomenon of waves. They may not be the easiest thing in the world to understand but they are fascinating.  

Next time you switch on a radio or the TV or get your sprained ankle x-rayed at the hospital, think about all the invisible and visible waves swirling around us every second of every day. Appreciate the STEM-tastic wave and remember this:

Be curious. 

Think about the world around you.

Figure out what makes it tick and work to make it a better place.

CATCH A WAVE!!!

Mike Hays has worked hard from a young age to be a well-rounded individual. A well-rounded, equal-opportunity sports enthusiast, that is. If they keep a score, he’ll either watch it, play it, or coach it. A molecular microbiologist by day, middle-grade author, sports coach, and general good citizen by night, he blogs about sports/life/training-related topics at www.coachhays.com and writer stuff at www.mikehaysbooks.comTwo of his science essays, The Science of Jurassic Park and Zombie Microbiology 101,  are included in the Putting the Science in Fiction collection from Writer’s Digest Books. He can be found roaming Bluesky under the guise of @mikehays64.bsky.social and @MikeHays64 on Instagram.


The O.O.L.F Files

This month on the Out Of Left Field (O.O.L.F.) Files, we take a trip around the internet to further investigate the awesomeness of radio and ultraviolet waves. 

National Radio Astronomy Observatory 

The University of Central Florida’s Astronomy coursebook chapter, The Electromagnetic Spectrum.

NASA’s Hubblesite

Studious Guy

Middle School, Experiment with Radio Waves Science Projects

GCSE Physics

  • Radio Waves #65

  • Visible and UV Light #67


STEM Tuesday– Radio/UV Waves and Applied Physics — In the Classroom

 

Bright blue semicircular lines against a black background emanate from a central point to the left and the right. Text reads: Understanding and Using Radio Waves.

 

Understanding and Using Radio Waves
by Elizabeth Rubio

The focus of this book is on the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum called radio waves, but it also does a good job covering what the electromagnetic spectrum is. It also explains the difference between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, which ties into the books X-Rays and The Radium Girls. The book also looks at the many ways radio waves are used.

 

White skeleton of chest and neck glows against a blue outline of a human body, against a black background. Text reads: Super Science Feats: Medical Breakthroughs: X-RaysSuper Science Feats: Medical Breakthroughs: X-Rays
by Alicia Z. Klepeis

This book briefly covers what x-rays are and what they can do.

 

Text reads: The Radium Girls: Young Readers Edition. Underneath, a surface covered in bright green holds a paintbrush, with green paint dripping off it, a bottle containing a green substance, a clock, and a skeleton.The Radium Girls
by Kate Moore

What happens when people are exposed to light waves emitted from radioactive material? This book tells the stories of a group of women who were exposed to radioactive radium through their work. This is not an easy read emotionally, but it tells a very important story.

 

 

The text Microwaves shows over a white, round, object sitting on a metal structure. Blue lines emanate from the ball.Microwaves
by Tracy Vonder Brink

Ever wondered how microwave ovens work? Check out this book for a brief overview of microwaves and how they are used to cook food.

 

A hand holds a cell phone. The image on the phone is a wifi symbol. Text reads How it Works: Wi-Fi.

Bonus Book: WiFi (How It Works)
by Janet Slingerland

This book provides an introduction to WiFi. It includes what radio waves are and how they are used to transmit signals, connecting devices through WiFi networks.

 

The electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) is one of my favorite science topics, and there are so many different things you can do with it. Here are just a few.

Search for Waves

Light waves are all around us all the time. Have students look around them to see how many different types of electromagnetic light waves they can find in their daily lives.

Give students an EMS chart like this one: https://www.ces.fau.edu/nasa/module-2/radiation-sun.php. Have them place things that use EMS waves onto the chart, in their proper location. For instance, everything we see falls into the visible light area of the EMS. Cameras/photographs could also be placed in this area.

BBC Bitesize has a great table that details different ways the various EMS wave types are used: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z79hvcw/revision/2

 

Explore Light

As explained in Understanding and Using Radio Waves, NASA uses radio waves to explore outer space. They have a great educators guide that covers the electromagnetic spectrum: https://www.nasa.gov/stem-content/the-electromagnetic-spectrum-unit. The activities involve building spectroscopes, instruments that allow people to separate and study light.

Exploratorium has another spectrograph activity: https://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/cd-spectroscope

To explore how light is used to transmit audio, check out this activity:   https://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/modulated-led. This would be great for a makerspace.

Another type of light that’s fun to explore is polarized light. This activity is also reminiscent of x-rays: https://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/bone-stress

 

Have Fun with Luminescence

As described in The Radium Girls, people were enthralled by the luminescent beauty of radium. Here’s an activity that explores luminescence using a chemical reaction: https://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/glow-up

You could also have fun exploring with a UV flashlight. This ties in with STEM Tuesday’s Bioluminescence topic from October 2024.

 

Consider OSHA

The story of the radium girls helped spur the creation of OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). Some legislators have called for eliminating OSHA. Have students explore OSHA – https://www.osha.gov – and what is does. After this investigation, do they believe OSHA should be eliminated or not? Have them write an essay or hold a debate to present their positions.

 

More Activities

Here’s another makerspace activity to build a WiFi antenna out of cans: https://www.shtfpreparedness.com/build-tin-can-wifi-antenna

PBS Electromagnetic Spectrum Tour: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/electromagnetic-spectrum.html

PBS Learning Media – The Electromagnetic Spectrum (grades 9-12): https://whyy.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/buac20-912-sci-ps-emspectruminfographic/the-electromagnetic-spectrum

5 Activities to Explore the EMS: https://www.brightinthemiddle.com/exploring-the-electromagnetic-spectrum-through-5-fun-wow-factor-activities

 


Woman with short brown hair and glasses, smiling.Janet Slingerland is the author of more than 20 books for young readers. To find out more about Janet and her books, check out http://janetsbooks.com.

STEM Tuesday– Radio/UV Waves and Applied Physics — Book List

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All the things you cannot see! This book list gives an introduction of all the different kinds of waves and radiation out there – and their sometimes surprising applications.

 

 

 

Wave Hi and Goodbye to Energy!: An Introduction to Waves

by Baby Professor

With colorful photographs and simple explanations, this book gives a basic introduction to the different waves of energies and their applications in day to day life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Radar and the Raft: A True Story About a Scientific Marvel, the Lives it Saved, and the World it Changed 

by Jeff Lantos

Are you looking for a tale that includes scientific discoveries, the dangers of war and a family in peril? This is the book for you. Jeff Lantos connects the dots between batteries and radar during World War II while adding into the mix a family’s harrowing journey. The result, a rollicking adventure through history. This is an adventure you won’t want to put down!

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Ray of Light: A Book of Science and Wonder

by Walter Wick

Fascinated by the world of light?  Take a peek inside and discover what it is made of. With fabulous photographs and engaging text, readers will come to understand the secrets of light. Take a look at incandescence, light waves, the color spectrum and more; it just might change the way you observe the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking Up: An Illustrated Guide to Telescopes 

by Jacob Kramer and Stephanie Scholz

Telescopes have been our partners exploring the skies for ages. How do they work? Are  all telescopes the same? Peer inside this amazing book and learn about

the instrument that makes our skies shine.

 

Inside In: X-Rays of Nature’s Hidden World

Written by Jan Paul Schutten, photography by Arie van ‘t Riet, translated by Laura Watkinson

What can an X-ray show us? Only nature’s hidden world! See a seahorse’s skeleton, discover how a frog uses its eyes to swallow, and peek under a bee’s furry coat for starters. Images will amaze readers as they explore a world they never knew.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unlocking the Universe: The Cosmic Discoveries of the Webb Space Telescope

by Suzanne Slade

It took thousands of people to build the James Webb Space Telescope. With the help of scientists and engineers, what started with a dream became an amazing reality. The result? Images that captivated the world. This is the story of the James Webb Space Telescope, and it will astound you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Radium Girls: Young Readers’ Edition: The Scary but True Story of the Poison that Made People Glow in the Dark 

by Kate Moore

The true story of the young women who worked in watch factories painting dials with glow-in-the-dark radium paint – and started falling ill with a mysterious illness, and their determination to fight back. For fans of both science and history.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Way Things Work 

by David Macaulay

Learn about all things physics in this exciting, fun-filled book, including about different kinds of waves and their applications.

 

 

 

 

 

 

X-Rays: Super Science Feats: Medical Breakthroughs

by Alicia Z Klepeis

With photographs, infographics and activities, this book is an introduction to how x-rays were discovered, how X-ray imaging works, and its applications.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Microwaves

by Traci Vonder Brink

Microwaves don’t just cook your food! This book tells us all the other things that microwaves do – carry messages, help detect weather and much more!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Understanding and Using Radio Waves (Electromagnetic Spectrum) 

by Elizabeth Rubio

Radio waves don’t just mean music on your radio. The applications of radio waves are far-reaching – it is used in space exploration too! Learn all about radio waves, transmitters, AM/FM frequencies and much more in this book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Susan Summers is a wildlife enthusiast and an author. Contact her at: https://susan-inez-summers.weebly.com/

 

 

Shruthi Rao is an author. Her home on the web is https://shruthi-rao.com