Much of human perception is thanks to the transmission of light and sound, from reading a book, to watching television, to walking to school. Explaining deep but foundational topics through modeling, this book helps readers visualize and represent the properties of light and sound, while contextualizing their practical uses. As students experiment with light and sound, they will master key concepts covered in the NextGen Science Standards.

Science, engineering, and technology permeate nearly every facet of modern life and hold the key to solving many of humanity's most pressing current and future challenges. The United States' position in the global economy is declining, in part because U.S. workers lack fundamental knowledge in these fields. To address the critical issues of U.S. competitiveness and to better prepare the workforce, A Framework for K-12 Science Education proposes a new approach to K-12 science education that will capture students' interest and provide them with the necessary foundational knowledge in the field. A Framework for K-12 Science Education outlines a broad set of expectations for students in science and engineering in grades K-12. These expectations will inform the development of new standards for K-12 science education and, subsequently, revisions to curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional development for educators. This book identifies three dimensions that convey the core ideas and practices around which science and engineering education in these grades should be built. These three dimensions are: crosscutting concepts that unify the study of science through their common application across science and engineering; scientific and engineering practices; and disciplinary core ideas in the physical sciences, life sciences, and earth and space sciences and for engineering, technology, and the applications of science. The overarching goal is for all high school graduates to have sufficient knowledge of science and engineering to engage in public discussions on science-related issues, be careful consumers of scientific and technical information, and enter the careers of their choice. A Framework for K-12 Science Education is the first step in a process that can inform state-level decisions and achieve a research-grounded basis for improving science instruction and learning across the country. The book will guide standards developers, teachers, curriculum designers, assessment developers, state and district science administrators, and educators who teach science in informal environments.

Lists citations with abstracts for aerospace related reports obtained from world wide sources and announces documents that have recently been entered into the NASA Scientific and Technical Information Database.

This unique, edited book is a must for science educators who desire to improve upon traditional methods for science teaching and learning. It provides background, theoretical research-based frameworks, guidelines, and concrete examples for the implementation and assessment of innovative models of science learning, teaching, and professional preparation.

Written at an intermediate level in a way that is easy to understand, Fundamentals and Applications of Ultrasonic Waves, Second Edition provides an up-to-date exposition of ultrasonics and some of its main applications. Designed specifically for newcomers to the field, this fully updated second edition emphasizes underlying physical concepts over mathematics. The first half covers the fundamentals of ultrasonic waves for isotropic media. Starting with bulk liquid and solid media, discussion extends to surface and plate effects, at which point the author introduces new modes such as Rayleigh and Lamb waves. This focus on only isotropic media simplifies the usually complex mathematics involved, enabling a clearer understanding of the underlying physics to avoid the complicated tensorial description characteristic of crystalline media. The second part of the book addresses a broad spectrum of industrial and research applications, including quartz crystal resonators, surface acoustic wave devices, MEMS and microacoustics, and acoustic sensors. It also provides a broad discussion on the use of ultrasonics for non-destructive evaluation. The author concentrates on the developing area of microacoustics, including exciting new work on the use of probe microscopy techniques in nanotechnology. Focusing on the physics of acoustic waves, as well as their propagation, technology, and applications, this book addresses viscoelasticity, as well as new concepts in acoustic microscopy. It updates coverage of ultrasonics in nature and developments in sonoluminescence, and it also compares new technologies, including use of atomic force acoustic microscopy and lasers. Highlighting both direct and indirect applications for readers working in neighboring disciplines, the author presents particularly important sections on the use of microacoustics and acoustic nanoprobes in next-generation devices and instruments.

Using ordinary materials commonly found in the classroom, students will delight in doing a variety of scientific investigations that will lead them to their own discoveries about scientific phenomena. Helpful tips and background information are provided for the teacher.