Medium in Science

In science, the term "medium" refers to a substance or material through which energy, such as sound, light, or heat, can travel. Different types of energy require different mediums in order to propagate.

Types of Mediums

There are different types of mediums, and they can be classified based on the type of energy they can transmit:

Mechanical Medium: This type of medium can transmit mechanical waves, such as sound waves. Examples include air, water, and solids.
Electromagnetic Medium: This medium can transmit electromagnetic waves, such as light waves. The vacuum of space, air, and glass are examples of electromagnetic mediums.
Thermal Medium: This medium can transmit heat energy. Examples include metals, water, and air.

How Mediums Work

When energy is introduced into a medium, it causes particles within the medium to vibrate or move in some way. This disturbance is then transmitted through the medium, allowing the energy to travel from one point to another. The way in which the energy is transmitted depends on the properties of the medium, such as density, elasticity, and temperature.

Study Guide

To understand the concept of mediums in science, it's important to study the following key points:

Identify and classify different types of mediums based on the energy they can transmit.
Understand how energy is transmitted through a medium and the factors that influence this transmission.
Explore real-life examples of mediums and the role they play in the propagation of energy.

By grasping the concept of mediums, you will gain a deeper understanding of how energy travels and interacts with the world around us.

◂Science Worksheets and Study Guides Third Grade. Sound

Vocabulary/Answer key

Sound

The resources above cover the following skills:

PHYSICAL SCIENCE

Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions

Explore objects that can be manipulated in order to determine cause-and-effect relationships (e.g., distance between objects affecting strength of a force, orientation of magnets affecting direction of a magnetic force) of electric interactions between two objects not in contact with one another (e.g., force on hair from an electrically charged balloon, electrical forces between a charged rod and pieces of paper) or magnetic interactions between two objects not in contact with one another (e.g., force between two permanent magnets or between an electromagnet and steel paperclips, force exerted by one magnet versus the force exerted by two magnets).

Apply scientific ideas about magnets to solve a problem through an engineering design project (e.g., constructing a latch to keep a door shut, creating a device to keep two moving objects from touching each other such as a maglev system).