Page 206 - The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 11 and 12: Science, 2008 (revised)

Grade 12, University Preparation
e1. analyse technologies that use the wave nature of light, and assess their impact on society and the environment;
e2. investigate, in qualitative and quantitative terms, the properties of waves and light, and solve related problems;
e3. demonstrate an understanding of the properties of waves and light in relation to diffraction, refraction, interference, and polarization.
E1. Relating Science to Technology, Society, and the Environment
E2. Developing Skills of Investigation and Communication
e. the wAve nAture of light OVERALL EXPECTATIONS
By the end of this course, students will:
THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM, GRADES 11 AND 12 | science
SPECIFIC EXPECTATIONS
By the end of this course, students will:
e1.1 analyse, with reference to the principles related to the wave nature of light, a technology that uses these principles (e.g., Xeon lights, spectroscopes, polarized sunglasses) [AI, C]
Sample questions: How do geologists use the wave nature of light to find mineral deposits? How do surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) make use of the wave nature of light? What are some of the applications of SPPs? How does the global positioning system (GPS) use the wave nature of light? What are its applications? What are its shortcomings?
e1.2 assess the impact on society and the environ- ment of technologies that use the wave nature of light (e.g., DVDs, polarized lenses, night vision goggles, wireless networks) [AI, C]
Sample issue: Fibre optical technology has revolutionized access to information. Some people argue that unrestricted access to infor- mation helps to open up societies and improve human rights and can be used as tools for pro- democracy groups. However, some totalitarian governments practise censorship by restricting citizens’ access to Internet sites promoting human rights and democracy.
Sample questions: How has holographic tech- nology made it more difficult to counterfeit Canadian currency? In what ways does the
use of lasers in surgery improve surgical tech- niques and recovery time? In what ways can posting magazines or newsletters on the Internet, rather than printing and distributing them, benefit the environment?
By the end of this course, students will:
e2.1 use appropriate terminology related to the wave nature of light, including, but not limited to: diffraction, dispersion, wave interference, nodal line, phase, oscillate, polarization, and electro- magnetic radiation [C]
e2.2 conduct inquiries involving the diffraction and interference of waves, using ripple tanks or computer simulations [PR]
e2.3 conduct inquiries involving the diffraction, refraction, polarization, and interference of light waves (e.g., shine lasers through single, double, and multiple slits; observe a computer simulation of Young’s double-slit experiment; measure the index of refraction of different ma- terials; observe the effect of crossed polarizing filters on transmitted light) [PR]
e2.4 analyse diffraction and interference of water waves and light waves (e.g., with reference to two-point source interference in a ripple tank, thin-film interference, multiple-slit interfer- ence), and solve related problems [PR, AI]
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