Year 9 · Science · beta

Waves

This unit explores the nature of sound and water waves, including transverse and longitudinal motion, wave reflection, superposition, and the speed of sound in various media. It covers sound production, detection, and auditory ranges, emphasising data interpretation, and basic calculations.

This is an attributed Oak National Academy lesson sequence, not a completed or academically approved DASKEREL course. Supporting transcripts may depend on video, images, practical equipment or teacher explanation. Follow each lesson’s supervision guidance. For religious education and RSHE, follow the school’s syllabus, policy and safeguarding procedures.

Prior knowledge

  • Hard surfaces reflect sound because air particles bounce off them.
  • Soft surfaces absorb a lot of sound because sound waves transfer energy by making the particles in them vibrate.
  • A light source can emit light in every direction.
  • Light moves in straight lines.
  • A light ray is just a line that shows the direction light travels in.
  • The angle of incidence is the angle at which light hits a mirror.
  • The angle of reflection is the angle at which light is reflected off a mirror.
  • For mirrors, the angle of reflection is the same size as the angle of incidence.

Source curriculum references

  • Interpret observations and data, including identifying patterns and using observations, measurements and data to draw conclusions
  • Use and derive simple equations and carry out appropriate calculations
  • Waves on water as undulations which travel through water with transverse motion; these waves can be reflected, and add or cancel – superposition
  • Frequencies of sound waves, measured in hertz (Hz); echoes, reflection and absorption of sound
  • Sound needs a medium to travel, the speed of sound in air, in water, in solids
  • Sound produced by vibrations of objects, in loudspeakers, detected by their effects on microphone diaphragm and the ear drum; sound waves are longitudinal
  • The auditory range of humans and animals
  • Pressure waves transferring energy; use for cleaning and physiotherapy by ultrasound; waves transferring information for conversion to electrical signals by microphone

Oak source metadata. DASKEREL has not independently verified school-level coverage.

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