Purpose: As students progress through secondary science they will develop an understanding of waves as a means of transferring energy. Practical science activities around the study of sound are often used as a basis for understanding features of waves such as wavelength, frequency and amplitude. Digital technology...

In this activity students investigate the mystery of a light beam which seems to bend.  Students can investigate:

• Qualitative behaviour of light  when the medium in which it propagates changes its refraction index. 
• Quantitative evaluation of the behaviour of light in refraction by means of...

This video provides an introduction to waves which looks at the differences between types of wave.  It would make a good revision video which discusses mechanical and electromagnetic waves with examples of each, with how particles and fields fit into the topic.  They presenter also demonstrates the difference...

This Mathematics Matters case study, from the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, looks at how mathematical models try to understand the causes of rogue waves. These huge waves appear without warning, towering high over ships and oil rigs. Traditional mathematical models could not predict the occurrence...

Waves and Radiation is one of the publication themes of the Gatsby Science Enhancement Programme.

The last one hundred years has seen an explosion in the use of electromagnetic radiation for communication. Using simple practical kits, Radiation and Communication looks at the properties of...

Work done in this Nuffield 13 - 16 module followed from the B units called ‘Energy’ and ‘Seeing and light’. This D unit provided enough material for eight double periods during a Further Science course and built on the content of the S units for Single Science. The...

The speed of a wave in a solid is investigated in this video. A signal generator and length of elastic are used to measure the frequency and wavelength of a wave, which allows wave speed to be calculated. 

This Catalyst article looks at sperm whales and their ways of communications. Sperm whales can dive deep into the ocean. They use sound waves to communicate in the dark and to detect their prey.

This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2016, Volume...

Work done in this Nuffield 13 - 16 module followed from the unit called ‘Senses’. This B unit provided enough material for six double periods in the third year of secondary school (year nine). The teachers’ guide included seven worksheets to supplement the students’...

From an early age, Giuseppe had an interest in sound and audio productino. After college he worked as a sound engineer at a recording studio, moving onto outdoor shows and cruise ship audio management. After working in the theatre, he has spent the last 8 eyars at the Royal Opera House, ensuring the...

In this video an oscilloscope simulator on a laptop is demonstrated to visualise a sound wave and calculate its frequency. 

This activity uses a humorous video to raise a serious question: can science tell us what animals are saying, and interpret their emotions? The Bow-lingual dog translator claims to detect animal emotions by analysing bark sounds waves. Students use research evidence to decide whether the device does what it claims...