Electromagnetic Radiation

Introduction

Today, you're going to learn what the seven types of electromagnetic radiation are and what each of them are used for in every day life.

Task

This webquest will introduce students to electromagnetic radiation, what it means when radiation has more energy than others, and how we use it in our daily lives.

Without radiation, life wouldn't exist.  With too much radiation, life also wouldn't exist.  We walk a fine line every single day of ours lives, but what exactly is radiation?


To start, students will learn a few basic definitions to help guide them through the rest of the webquest. 
After, students will investigate what the different types of radiation are, and how we use them in various types of technology.

Process

Did you know that light is just a tiny fraction of a much bigger family known as electromagnetic radiation?  It surrounds us constantly but most people think of them as separate entities, and, even worse, that all radiation is dangerous!  Yes, some radiation can be harmful, but most is harmless, especially in the quantities we experience.  So what separates these different types of radiation?  First, we need to define a couple parameters.

Task 1:  Define frequency, wavelength, and radiation.

Visit This Website for a better understanding.


Task 2:  What are the seven types of radiation?  To learn more Click Here

List them from highest energy to lowest energy

Once you have the seven types listed, create your own mnemonic to help you remember.  Creativity counts!  If you're not sure what a mnemonic is, you can see a common one here:  Planet Mnemonic

Task 3:  What is each type of radiation used for in every day life?

Lastly, you will browse through the website listed below to find at least two ways we use the various types of radiation in our modern technology. 

http://www.darvill.clara.net/emag/emagradio.htm

http://www.stmary.ws/HighSchool/Physics/radio_1.htm

https://www.boundless.com/physics/textbooks/boundless-physics-textbook/electromagnetic-waves-23/the-electromagnetic-spectrum-165/microwaves-593-11170/

http://www.ask.com/science/infrared-used-5d0f42ba586aecc4

http://sciencelearn.org.nz/Contexts/You-Me-and-UV/Science-Ideas-and-Concepts/Uses-for-UV

http://science.howstuffworks.com/dictionary/physics-terms/xray-info2.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_ocr_gateway/radiation/treatmentrev1.shtml



Task 4:  Reflection. Complete sentences are required!

List three things you learned from doing this webquest.

List two things you found interesting and would like to learn more about.

List one question you have after learning about radiation today.

Evaluation

Task 1: 

Define: 

Frequency:  ______________________________________________________________________________

Wavelength:  ____________________________________________________________________________

Radiation:  _______________________________________________________________________________

Task 2

What are the seven types of radiation from highest to lowest energy

1. ______________________________________________________

2.  _____________________________________________________

3.  _____________________________________________________

4.  _____________________________________________________

5.  _____________________________________________________

6.  _____________________________________________________

7.  _____________________________________________________

Create a mnemonic for the seven radiation types.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Task 3:  What are two ways each type of radiation is used.  Make sure to list which type of radiation you're talking about!

1.  ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2.  ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3.  ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4.  _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5.  ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6.  ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7.  ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Task 4:  3-2-1

What are three things you learned from this Webquest?

1.  ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2.  ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3.  ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What are two things you found interesting?

1.  ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2.  ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What is something you still have a question about?

1.  ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Task 1

2 points - all definitions accurate and complete

1 point - definitions inaccurate and/or one or two missing

0 points - no definitions

Task 2

3 points - all radiations listed from high to low energy, in order, mnemonic included

2 points - all radiations listed, out of order, mnemonic included

     all radiations listed in order, no mnemonic included

1 point - some radiations listed with / without mnemonic

0 points - no radiations listed, no mnemonic

Task 3

4 points - two examples for each type listed

3 points - less than two examples for 1-2 types

2 points - less than two examples for 3-4 types

1 point - less than two examples for 5-6 types

0 points - less than two or no examples for all types

Task 4

3 points - all three parts answered in full

2 points - missing 1-2 reflection responses

1 point - missing 3-4 reflection responses

0 points - no reflection

Maximum score:  12 points

A - 11 points

B - 10 points

C - 9 points

D - 8 points

Conclusion

After today's Webquest, I hope the types of electromagnetic radiation are a little more clear!

They're used every day with a variety of technology.  Seeing the clock, using your cell phone, eating preserved (irradiated!) food, or a feeling warm because of a space heater in your room ... it's all different types of radiation!

Make sure to turn this in to me before the period ends.

Credits

The interwebs & Jeff McKearney

Teacher Page

Task 1

Frequency:  How often something occurs per second.  Measured in Hertz (Hz)

Wavelength:  The distance between two crests or two troughs of a wave

Radiation:  electromagnetic energy

Task 2

Gamma

X-Ray

Ultraviolet

(Visible) Light

Infrared

Microwave

Radio

Task 3

Gamma - food irradiation, cancer treatment

X-Ray - Airport security, broken bones

Ultraviolet - CSI, tanning beds

Light - To see, fiber optics

Infrared - Thermal scopes, heat lamps, TV remotes

Microwaves - Microwaves, cell phones

Radio - Radio, Walkie Talkies, Radar

Mnemonic:  unique for each student

Task 4

Reflection:  unique for each student