Curing Cancer with the Wave Properties of Light

Lesson Summary

In this lesson, students will learn that light can move charged particles, because it is an electromagnetic wave. They will also learn about resonance of vibrating objects and how light can cause resonance of electrons. They will learn how these concepts apply to treating cancer with gold nanoparticles. 

Upon completion of this lesson, students will be able to: 

• Define the natural frequency of a vibrating object, driving frequency, and resonance. 

• Demonstrate and explain why the driving frequency must approximately match the natural frequency to lead to the largest amplitude and fastest oscillations of a spring. 

• Explain why a particular frequency of light is needed for gold nanoparticles to be most effective therapeutically when treating cancer.

• Describe how the gold nanoparticle cancer treatment works.

Standards

Science and Engineering Practices:

MA Science and Technology/Engineering (2016):

NGSS (2013):

Common Core Math/Language Arts Standards:

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