4.6.1 Waves in air, fluids and solids

Describe waves as either transverse or longitudinal, defining these waves in terms of the direction of their oscillation and energy transfer and giving examples of each

Define waves as transfers of energy from one place to another, carrying information

Define amplitude, wavelength, frequency, period and wave speed and Identify them where appropriate on diagrams

State examples of methods of measuring wave speeds in different media and Identify the suitability of apparatus of measuring frequency and wavelength

Calculate wave speed, frequency or wavelength by applying, but not recalling, the equation: [ v = f λ] and calculate wave period by recalling and applying the equation: [ T = 1/f ]

Identify amplitude and wavelength from given diagrams

Describe a method to measure the speed of sound waves in air

Describe a method to measure the speed of ripples on a water surface

Demonstrate how changes in velocity, frequency and wavelength are inter-related in the transmission of sound waves from one medium to another

Required practical 8: make observations to identify the suitability of apparatus to measure the frequency, wavelength and speed of waves in a ripple tank and waves in a solid

Discuss the importance of understanding both mechanical and electromagnetic waves by giving examples, such as designing comfortable and safe structures and technologies

Describe a wave's ability to be reflected, absorbed or transmitted at the boundary between two different materials

Draw the reflection of a wave at a surface by constructing ray diagrams

Required practical 9 (physics only): investigate the reflection of light by different types of surface and the refraction of light by different substances.

Describe, with examples, processes which convert wave disturbances between sound waves and vibrations in solids

Explain why such processes only work over a limited frequency range and the relevance of this to the range of human hearing, which is from 20 Hz to 20 kHz

Define ultrasound waves and explain how these are used to form images of internal structures in both medical and industrial imaging

Compare the two types of seismic wave produced by earthquakes with reference to the media they can travel in and the evidence they provide of the structure of the Earth

Describe how echo sounding using high frequency sound waves is used to detect objects in deep water and measure water depth