What solids, liquids and gases are made up from.

To regularly and repeatedly move back and forth.

A ‘pulse’ that travels through a material caused by the vibrations of particles.

The material that sound is travelling through, that is set vibrating.

An area of space with no matter present (that contains no particles).

Travelling sound

Science

In the Making images unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn that white light is made of different colours that can be detected by the eye, and how pinhole cameras and lenses form clear images.

In the Light and how it travels (Y6) unit, pupils learnt that light travels in straight lines, which explains why shadows have the same shape as the objects that cast them, and objects are seen by the light that reflects back into the eye or travels directly into it from a light source.

This unit explores sound and light waves, including frequencies, echoes, reflection, absorption, and the need for a medium for sound to travel. It also compares light and matter waves, investigates light transmission and colour, and examines wave properties and effects.

Sound, light and vision

Which of the following words means ‘a completely empty area of space’?

Which of the following words means ‘a substance that a wave travels through’?

How many of the following can sound travel through: vacuum, gas, liquid, solid?

Sound travels at different speeds through different states of matter. 
Starting with the slowest, sort the following states of matter in order of increasing sound speed.

Sound waves can travel faster through larger gaps between particles in gases.

Vibrations are passed along faster if particles are bonded together.

Vibrations are passed along faster if the particles can move around each other.

Which of the following explains why sound travels at different speeds through solids, liquids and gases?

The amplitude of particle vibrations increases.

The energy of the sound wave is shared between more particles.

The energy of the sound wave is shared between fewer particles.

A vibrating object creates a sound. Which of the following correctly describes the change in the sound heard the further a sound wave travels?

the furthest distance the object moves from its original position

A vibrating object creates a sound. Which of the following correctly describes the amplitude of the vibration?

A vibrating object creates a sound. Which of the following correctly describes the change in the sound heard if the amplitude of the vibration decreases?

They are carried along with the sound wave.

They vibrate back and forth and do not travel.

They move away from the source of the sound.

Which of the following correctly describes the movement of air particles when a sound wave travels through the air?

They are tightly bound to neighbouring particles.

Solids, liquids and gases are made of particles. 
Which of the following describe the arrangement or the movement of particles in a solid?

They are much farther apart than in solids.

Which of the following describe the arrangement or the movement of particles in a liquid?

They are much farther apart than in liquids.

Which of the following describe the arrangement or the movement of particles in a gas?

Starter Quiz