Electromagnetic waves
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Threads
Why this why now
This unit builds on pupils’ prior learning from Measuring waves, where they explored the properties of waves, such as amplitude, frequency, and wavelength. It deepens their understanding by focusing on electromagnetic waves, covering their properties, uses, and how they interact with matter. As the final unit in the big question, How do we see, hear and communicate?, it reinforces pupils’ understanding of how waves are fundamental to communication technologies and sensory perception.
Prior knowledge requirements
- The visible spectrum comprises red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet light.
- A glass prism can split sunlight up into colours of the visible spectrum.
- A ray of light bends at the surface as it enters glass (or water) from air.
- A ray of light bends in the opposite direction at the surface as it leaves glass (or water) into air.
- The speed of a wave depends on the medium it is travelling through.
- The speed of a wave does not depend on its amplitude or its frequency.
- For a given wave speed, the higher the frequency, the shorter the wavelength.
- For a given waves speed, the longer the wavelength, the lower the frequency.
- Wave speed = frequency x wavelength.
Threads
Why this why now
This unit builds on pupils’ prior learning from Measuring waves, where they explored the properties of waves, such as amplitude, frequency, and wavelength. It deepens their understanding by focusing on electromagnetic waves, covering their properties, uses, and how they interact with matter. As the final unit in the big question, How do we see, hear and communicate?, it reinforces pupils’ understanding of how waves are fundamental to communication technologies and sensory perception.
Prior knowledge requirements
- The visible spectrum comprises red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet light.
- A glass prism can split sunlight up into colours of the visible spectrum.
- A ray of light bends at the surface as it enters glass (or water) from air.
- A ray of light bends in the opposite direction at the surface as it leaves glass (or water) into air.
- The speed of a wave depends on the medium it is travelling through.
- The speed of a wave does not depend on its amplitude or its frequency.
- For a given wave speed, the higher the frequency, the shorter the wavelength.
- For a given waves speed, the longer the wavelength, the lower the frequency.
- Wave speed = frequency x wavelength.
Physics
Electromagnetic waves
This unit explores reflection, refraction, and lenses using ray diagrams. It covers the electromagnetic spectrum, light as a wave, absorption, transmission, and practical uses. Emphasis is on risks, temperature balance, data presentation, and unit conversions.
7 lessons in unit
slide decks, worksheet PDFs, quizzes and lesson overviews. You can select individual lessons from the Electromagnetic waves unit and download the resources you need, or download the entire unit now. See every unit listed in our AQA secondary combined science curriculum and discover more of our teaching resources for AQA secondary combined science programmes.