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P5 Waves in matter

4 dot points across 4 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do waves reflect and refract, and how do lenses form images?

The reflection of waves and the law of reflection, the refraction of waves at a boundary and why it happens, total internal reflection, and how converging and diverging lenses form images.
A focused answer to OCR Gateway GCSE Physics A topic P5 on reflection, refraction and lenses, covering the law of reflection, the refraction of waves at a boundary and why it happens, total internal reflection, and how converging and diverging lenses form images.
9 min answer →

How does sound travel and how do we hear it, and what are the uses of ultrasound?

Sound as a longitudinal wave, how sound travels through a medium and is heard, the human hearing range, ultrasound and its uses in imaging and measuring distance, and echoes.
A focused answer to OCR Gateway GCSE Physics A topic P5 on sound and ultrasound, covering sound as a longitudinal wave, how it travels and is heard, the human hearing range, ultrasound and its uses in imaging and measuring distance, and how echoes are used.
8 min answer →

What is the electromagnetic spectrum, and what are the uses and hazards of each type of wave?

The electromagnetic spectrum from radio to gamma, its order by wavelength, frequency and energy, the common properties of all electromagnetic waves, and the uses and hazards of each part.
A focused answer to OCR Gateway GCSE Physics A topic P5 on the electromagnetic spectrum, covering the order from radio to gamma by wavelength, frequency and energy, the common properties of all electromagnetic waves, and the uses and hazards of each part.
9 min answer →

What are transverse and longitudinal waves, and how do we use the wave equation?

Transverse and longitudinal waves, the wave quantities (amplitude, wavelength, frequency and period), the wave speed equation, the relationship between frequency and period, and the waves practical.
A focused answer to OCR Gateway GCSE Physics A topic P5 on wave behaviour, covering transverse and longitudinal waves, amplitude, wavelength, frequency and period, the wave speed equation, the link between frequency and period, and the waves practical.
9 min answer →