Sound and Waves

Abstract

Oscillations, sound and waves are integral parts of undergraduate physics courses and even high school curricula in many countries. However, they are not always given a lot of attention. It is not uncommon for topics such as kinematics, forces, thermodynamics and electricity to use up most of the curriculum. Yet, understanding of oscillatory and wave phenomena is crucial for understanding resonance and propagation of disturbances in continuous media such as tsunamis and earthquakes. These concepts can then be extended to electromagnetic waves, like 5G networks, microwaves and Bluetooth, and further into quantum mechanics. One of the reasons for the relatively low attention given to oscillations and waves is their perceived difficulty for students. So in this overview, we analyze the research literature on students' reasoning about oscillations, sound and waves to try and find the reasons why the topics results difficult and what can be done about it.