9-12

H1: Analyze the evidence that leads scientists to conclude that light behaves somewhat like a wave and somewhat like a particle.

Curriculum Organizing Questions	What evidence is there that light behaves somewhat likes a wave? What evidence is there that light behaves somewhat like a particle?
Elaboration	Simple experiments with light can help students with this performance indicator.
Specific Ideas	Light waves can transfer energy when they interact with matter.NSES B6a. Light can behave like a wave. Waves can superimpose on one another, bend around corners, reflect off surfaces, be absorbed by materials they enter, and change direction when entering a new material. All these effects vary with wavelength. Benchmarks 4F6. Einstein proposed that light is composed of particles called photons.Conceptual Physics p. 585-586. The particle nature of light is supported by the photoelectric effect. Conceptual Physics p. 585-586.
Developmental &Instructional Implications	Children often hold a considerable number of misconceptions about light that may affect instruction. Driver et al offer a detailed discussion of children's difficulties with the ideas associated with light on pages 128-132.
Examples

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