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To describe properties of light

Science - Light and Sound

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Task 1: What is light?

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Complete the sentences by choosing the correct term in the brackets.

  1. Light is a form of (energy / matter).
  2. Light travels like a (transverse / longitudinal) wave.
  3. That means the vibration of a light wave is (parallel / at 90°) to the direction of the wave.
  4. Light (can / cannot) travel through space.
  5. Light travels very fast! It’s speed is (300 m/s / 300 000 km/s).

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Task 2: Features of a wave

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  1. Copy the wave below in your exercise book (tip: use pencil so you can erase if necessary).
  2. Fill in the boxes with the correct term: amplitude, wavelength, peak, trough
  3. The period is the time it takes a wave to complete one cycle. Using a coloured pen or pencil, outline a section of the wave that represents one cycle.

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Task 3: Know your key terms

In your own words, write a definition of the terms period, wavelength, frequency and amplitude.

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Key term

Definition

Period

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Wavelength

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Frequency

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Amplitude

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Answers

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Task 1: What is light?

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Complete the sentences by choosing the correct term in the brackets.

  • Light is a form of energy.
  • Light travels like a transverse wave.
  • That means the vibration of a light wave is at 90° to the direction of the wave.
  • Light can travel through space.
  • Light travels very fast! It’s speed is 300 000 km/s.

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Task 2: Features of a wave

7

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  • Copy the wave pictured below in your exercise book (tip: use pencil so you can erase if necessary).
  • Fill in the boxes with the correct term: amplitude, wavelength, peak, trough.
  • The period is the time it takes a wave to complete one cycle. Using a coloured pen or pencil, outline a section of the wave that represents one cycle.

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Peak

Amplitude

Trough

Wavelength

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Task 3: Know your key terms

In your own words, write a definition of the terms period, wavelength, frequency and amplitude. Answers for this will vary.

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8

Key term

Definition

Period

The time it takes to complete one cycle.

Wavelength

The distance between one peak of a wave and the next peak.

Frequency

The number of waves that go by in a second.

Amplitude

The distance from the still position to the peak of a wave.

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For more resources

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edresearch.edu.au

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ochre.org.au

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@EdResearchAU

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