You should be able to:
(6.01) Use
the following units:
hertz (Hz), metre (m), newton per kilogram (N/kg)
You should be able to:
(6.02) describe longitudinal and
transverse waves in terms of frequency, wavelength and amplitude
(6.03) recall that the electromagnetic spectrum includes radio waves,
microwaves, infra-red (IR), visible,
ultraviolet (UV), X-rays and gamma rays
(6.04) recall the order of the electromagnetic spectrum in decreasing wavelength
and increasing frequency including
the colours of the visible spectrum
(6.05) recall that the energy associated with an electromagnetic wave, and thus
its potential danger, increases with
increasing frequency
(6.06) recall that all electromagnetic waves are transverse and travel at the
same speed in a vacuum
(6.07) understand the difference between analogue and digital signals
(6.08) understand some uses of electromagnetic radiation including
radio waves: broadcasting and communications including satellite
transmissions
microwaves: cooking and communications including satellite transmissions
infra-red: grills, night vision, remote controls, security systems and
treatment of muscular problems
visible light: vision and photography
ultraviolet: sunbeds, security marking, fluorescent lamps and detecting
forged bank notes
X-rays: observing the internal structure of objects and materials including
the human body
gamma rays: sterilising food and medical equipment, and treatment of cancers
(6.09) understand the detrimental effects of excessive exposure of the human
body to
microwaves: internal heating of body tissue
infra-red: skin burns
ultraviolet: damage to surface cells (including skin cancer) and eyes
X-rays: damage to cells
(6.10) describe
the change of direction of light as it enters glass from air and as it leaves
glass into air (eg, glass block,
glass prism)
(6.11) understand
the refraction of light in terms of the change of speed when light crosses a boundary
(6.12) recall that light and infra-red radiation pass through an optical fibre
with very little energy loss
(6.13) recall that sound is transmitted as a longitudinal wave
(6.14) understand that sound with frequencies greater than 20,000 Hz is known as
ultrasound and recall that human ears
detect a limited range of frequencies
(6.15) describe the use of ultrasound in medical imaging and echo sounding
You should be able to:
(6.16) recall that the Moon orbits the
Earth and that some other planets also have moons (NB names
of moons are not required)
(6.17) understand gravitational field strength, g, and recall that it is
different on other planets and the
Moon to that on Earth
(6.18) explain that gravitational force
causes the planets to orbit the Sun
causes the Moon and artificial satellites to orbit the Earth
causes comets to orbit the Sun
(6.19) describe how the orbit of a comet differs from that of a planet
(6.20) recall that the solar system is part of the Milky Way galaxy
describe a galaxy as a large collection of millions of stars
state that the Universe is a large collection of galaxies
(6.21) describe the methods used to gather evidence for life elsewhere
soil experiments on landers (eg Viking)
listening on radio wavelengths (SETI)
(6.22) describe
the evolution of small stars like our Sun through stages from nebula to main sequence to red giant, white dwarf and black
dwarf
(6.23) understand that gravitational forces cause a nebula to collapse to form a
star
(6.24) describe
the Big Bang theory of the origin of the Universe and consider other
theories such as the Steady State
theory
(6.25) outline the evidence
in support of the current theory about the origin of the Universe
the
Big Bang
red
shift gives evidence that the Universe is expanding
microwaves
give evidence of the original explosion
(6.26) explain how the future of
the Universe depends on the amount of mass present
You should be able to:
(6.27) understand the terms atomic
(proton) number and mass (nucleon) number and explain the existence
of isotopes
(6.28) use symbols such as 14 6 C
to describe particular nuclei
(6.29) understand that radioactivity arises from the breakdown of an unstable
nucleus of an atom and is a random
process
(6.30) recall the three main types of radiation from radioactive sources and
their comparative mass, charge and
ionisation ability
(6.31) describe the properties of alpha and beta particles and gamma radiation,
including their penetrating powers
and their uses in smoke alarms, for controlling the thickness of sheet material
and sterilising medical instruments
(6.32) recall the existence of background radiation from the Earth and from
space including the regional
variations in the United Kingdom, eg because of radon gas released from rocks
(6.33) describe the dangers of ionising radiations including
radiation can cause mutations in living organisms
radiation can damage cells and tissue
the problems arising in the disposal of radioactive waste
(6.34) describe the problems associated with the safe disposal of radioactive
waste