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4.6 Waves

6 dot points across 6 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

What is the electromagnetic spectrum, and how are its waves used?

The electromagnetic spectrum: the order of the seven groups, their shared properties, their uses and the dangers of the more energetic waves.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Physics 4.6.2, covering the seven groups of the electromagnetic spectrum in order, their shared properties as transverse waves, their main uses, and the dangers of ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays.
9 min answer →

How do lenses form images, and why do objects have colour?

Lenses and visible light: how convex and concave lenses refract light, ray diagrams and magnification, and how colour depends on reflection, transmission and absorption (separate physics).
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Physics 4.6.2, covering how convex and concave lenses refract light to form images, drawing ray diagrams and using the magnification equation, and how the colour of objects depends on the reflection, transmission and absorption of light.
9 min answer →

How do we describe and measure a wave?

Properties of waves: amplitude, wavelength, frequency and period, the wave speed equation, and the required practical for measuring wave speed.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Physics 4.6.1, covering the amplitude, wavelength, frequency and period of a wave, the wave speed equation, the period equation, and the required practical for measuring the speed of waves.
9 min answer →

What happens when waves meet a boundary between materials?

Reflection and refraction: how waves are reflected, transmitted or absorbed at a boundary, the law of reflection, and why refraction occurs (separate physics).
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Physics 4.6.1 and 4.6.2, covering how waves are reflected, transmitted or absorbed at a boundary, the law of reflection with specular and diffuse reflection, and why refraction occurs when a wave changes speed.
9 min answer →

How does sound travel and how are sound and other waves used in technology?

Sound and uses of waves: how sound travels through solids and is heard, the range of human hearing, ultrasound, and the use of waves in detection and imaging (separate physics).
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Physics 4.6.1 and 4.6.2, covering how sound travels as a longitudinal wave and is heard, the human hearing range, ultrasound and its uses, and how reflected waves are used for detection and imaging such as echo sounding and seismic waves.
9 min answer →

What are transverse and longitudinal waves, and how do they differ?

Transverse and longitudinal waves: how each type oscillates relative to the direction of energy transfer, and examples of each.
A focused answer to AQA GCSE Physics 4.6.1, covering the difference between transverse and longitudinal waves, how the oscillations relate to the direction of energy transfer, and examples including light, sound and water waves.
8 min answer →