Science Foundations: Physics

Bryan Milner

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9781138721982
• eBook ISBN: 9781351759502
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Sociology
• Index: Social Sciences

This title was first published in 2001. The new edition of Science Foundations provides comprehensive coverage of single- and double-award GCSE science. It is fully revised and updated to match the new GCSE specifications, for teaching from September 2001. It contains all the material required for the foundation and higher tiers, with clear progression and explicit differentiation. 'Higher tier only' material is clearly marked in separate spreads. The language level is carefully controlled, with illustrations and layout specifically designed to make the concepts accessible. There are frequent opportunities for students to confirm their understanding of each key idea as it is introduced, via short questions and summary passages on each spread. The books include guidance for students on how to prepare for and answer their GCSE examinations, and a glossary of key words for ease of reference.

Waves and radiation

KS3A Ideas you need from Key Stage 3

Reflection and refraction

■ How light is reflected

A mirror that is flat is called a plane mirror.

The diagrams show how a plane mirror reflects light.

Look at the angle with the mirror:

■ of the beam of light that comes from the lamp

■ of the beam of light after it is reflected.

1 Copy the following headings.

Then complete the table.

Angle of beam going towards mirror	Angle of beam reflected from mirror
15°
60°
80°

Light is reflected from a plane mirror at the same angle as it strikes the mirror.

2 Ray X is going straight towards a mirror.

At what angle will it be reflected from the mirror?

Give a reason for your answer.

■ How light is refracted

Light can be refracted when it passes from one substance into another.

The diagrams show you more about the way light is refracted.

3 Copy the table. Then complete it.

Where the ray of light travels	What happens to the ray of light
from water into air	refracted ____________ the normal
from air into water	refracted ____________ the normal

■ Rays that aren’t refracted

The diagrams show what happens to rays of light when they strike a boundary head-on at 90° (along a normal).

4 Copy and complete the following sentences.

A ray of light travelling along a normal strikes a boundary at ____________ degrees.

When it crosses the boundary, the ray of light carries on travelling in the same ____________.

These rays of light strike the boundary at 90°. They do not change direction.

■ How sound is reflected

It isn’t only light that can be reflected.

You can also reflect sounds.

5 Look at the diagram.

Copy and complete the following sentences.

Light reflects well from a ____________, ____________ surface.

Sound reflects well from a ____________, ____________ surface.

When a sound strikes a hard, flat surface at a certain angle, it reflects at the ____________ angle.

The ticks sound loudest when the tubes are at the same angle to the surface.

■ How sound is refracted

Sound can also be bent or refracted. just like light. This happens when sound travels across the boundary between two different substances.

6 Look at the diagrams.

Then copy and complete the following sentences.

Light is ____________ as it passes into and out of the glass or plastic ____________.

This brings the light to a ____________ on the screen.

Sound is ____________ as it passes into and out of the ____________ ____________ gas in the balloon.

This brings the sound to a ____________ on the microphone.

Waves and radiation

1

Why do people say that light and sound are waves?

You can see waves on lakes and on the sea.

The wind makes these waves.

But we can look at water waves more easily if we make them in a tank.

The diagram shows how you can do this.

REMEMBER

A normal is a line at 90° to a boundary.

■ Reflecting water waves

The diagram shows what happens if you send water waves towards a hard, flat surface.

1 Copy and complete the following sentences.

A hard, flat surface ____________ water waves just like a plane mirror reflects ____________.

The water waves are reflected from the surface at the same ____________ as they strike it.

Your friend sends some water waves at 90° to a hard, flat surface.

2 What will happen to these waves after they have hit the surface?

■ Making the water shallower

The diagrams show what happens to water waves when the water suddenly gets shallower.

3 (a) What happens to the distance between the water ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• ■ How to use this book
• ■ Energy
• ■ Electricity
• ■ Waves and radiation
• ■ Forces
• ■ Handling data
• ■ Revising for tests and examinations
• ■ Physics formulas
• ■ How to write good answers in GCSE Science examinations
• ■ What you need to remember: completed passages
• ■ Glossary/index