AQA GCSE Waves Revision

Topic overview

Plan your waves revision

Use the resource cards below to revise one idea at a time. Each page includes worked examples, mini quizzes, practice questions, exam language and a visual or simulation when it adds learning value.

Knowledge map

How the topic fits together

Use this overview to find the part of the topic that needs attention; the focused guides below teach and assess each idea in depth.

Read a wave diagram

Amplitude is the maximum displacement from the rest position. Wavelength is the distance between matching points on adjacent waves. Frequency is the number of waves passing a point each second.

Explain wave behaviour

Reflection changes direction at a boundary. Refraction changes speed and direction when a wave enters a different medium. Diffraction is the spreading of waves through a gap or around an obstacle.

Use the electromagnetic spectrum

All electromagnetic waves travel at the same speed in a vacuum but have different frequencies and wavelengths. Higher-frequency radiation can transfer more energy and may be more hazardous.

Focused revision

Choose one idea at a time

Each guide combines explanation, a diagnostic check, misconception repair, worked examples and exam-style practice.

WA-08

Infrared Absorption and Emission Required Practical

Absorption and emission are related properties, but use separate experiments to measure them. A detector reading is only comparable when geometry and temperature are controlled.

DiagnosticExam practice

WA-01

Wave Properties, Speed, Frequency and Wavelength

A wave carries a disturbance and energy. The medium oscillates around its position rather than travelling all the way from source to receiver.

DiagnosticExam practiceInteractive

WA-02

Reflection, Refraction and Diffraction

Separate the ray construction from the cause of refraction. Reflection returns to the original medium; refraction changes speed and usually direction.

DiagnosticExam practiceInteractive

WA-03

Sound, Ultrasound and the Ear

Sound moves through vibrating matter. Ultrasound and seismic evidence use the travel, reflection and transmission of vibrations to infer hidden boundaries.

DiagnosticExam practice

WA-04

Electromagnetic Spectrum: Uses and Risks

The spectrum is continuous: the named bands share the same wave nature, but their wavelengths lead to different interactions with matter.

DiagnosticExam practice

WA-05

Light, Lenses, Image Formation and the Eye

Use actual ray intersections for real images and backward ray extensions for virtual images. Colour questions require tracking which wavelengths are available to reflect or transmit.

DiagnosticExam practice

WA-06

Waves Required Practical

The required practical uses waves in a ripple tank and waves in a solid. Measure frequency and wavelength in each, and judge whether the apparatus provides usable readings.

DiagnosticExam practice

WA-07

Light Required Practical

The light practical includes different reflecting surfaces and different refracting substances. A glass block investigation is one part of the complete activity.

DiagnosticExam practice

Across every topic

Build the exam skills around the physics

AQA GCSE Physics Required PracticalsLearn the method, diagnose errors and practise it.GCSE Physics Equations and Maths SkillsLearn the method, diagnose errors and practise it.How to Answer GCSE Physics Calculation QuestionsLearn the method, diagnose errors and practise it.How to Answer GCSE Physics Six-Mark QuestionsLearn the method, diagnose errors and practise it.GCSE Physics Graph SkillsLearn the method, diagnose errors and practise it.

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