Chemistry Triple Spring Term

Learners will be finishing off waves & magnets and then moving onto motion and uses of waves

Waves; Knowledge of waves is essential for any progress in science as they describe the ways that light and sound are transmitted. Waves convey only energy, not matter and in the case of electromagnetic waves they can travel in a vacuum. Before going on to such advanced concepts, learners must be able to understand what waves are, the differences between transverse and longitudinal waves and the different parts of a wave. This leads to calculations for wave speed using frequency and wavelength which have many important practical uses. The unit concludes with a practical activity in which learners must obtain data from waves and use this to calculate their speed, consolidating all that they have learned in the unit. 

Magnets; Learners build upon their knowledge of magnets and electromagnets from KS3. They start the unit recapping what they have previously learned about magnets (magnetic poles, magnetic materials and magnetic fields), before looking at the materials needed to make electromagnets, what factors increase the strength of electromagnets and the everyday uses of electromagnets. There is opportunity here for learners to make their own electromagnets and investigate how they can increase the strength of their electromagnets. Using what they now know about electromagnets, learners start to discover what is meant by the Motor Effect (with calculations), the variables needed for a motor to work and how motors can be reversed or their speed increased.

Motion; We now know that it is forces that cause objects to move or to stop moving but we now need to understand how and why objects move in the way that they do. From subatomic particles to giant  stars, everything in the universe is in motion, so how do we describe that motion? Newton's three Laws describe the motion of all matter in the universe and we can use them to predict the motion of objects and make them move in the way that they want them to. From cars and planes to hydroelectric dams and wind turbines, by understanding how to describe and control motion we can shape and change the world around us. The unit begins by describing scalars and vectors before going on to distance and velocity time graphs. It then moves on to freefalling objects with links to mass weight and gravity concepts. The SUVAT equations are then introduced which bring difficult but useful calculations. Newton's three laws are then recalled with their applications for motion in the real world. The unit concludes with a practical investigation into acceleration which brings together all of the theory and calculations found in the previous lessons.

Uses of waves: Learners are to recap the two types of wave. They will learn about the electromagnetic spectrum including the properties and uses of the different waves. They will look at radiation and absorption, including the practical use of a leslie cube to compare the radiation of different coloured materials. They will then look at the use of waves in medicine

Forces, waves and magnets, motion 

End of unit assessment will consist of a 40 mark test

Midway assessment set by class teacher which could be an exam question

Learners will receive guidance in a variety of ways.  These include marked assessments, reports, feedback in books, 1:1 interaction, Google Classroom.