CAIE IGCSE PHYSICS

taking into account the fact that the sound has to travel
there and back.
Sound travels at 343 metres per second in air, 1493
metres per second in water, and 5130 metres per second
in steel.
For a healthy human ear, the audible frequency range is
20 Hz to 20000 Hz.
Ultrasound is defined as sound having a frequency of
more than 20000 Hz:
Ultrasound is partially reflected back when it reaches a
border between two media. The remaining waves pass
through. A transceiver can produce ultrasound and collect
the reflected waves to determine the distance of objects
below the surface. Ultrasound is utilised for SONAR and
medical imaging without the usage of ionising radiation.

3.2. General Properties of Waves

Wavelength (λ): distance between two crests or troughs,

measured in mm cm or m
Frequency: Number of complete waves that go past a given
point per unit of time.
Measured in hertz (Hz) 1Hz = 1 complete wave per unit
second
Amplitude: The maximum particle displacement of the wave
from the undisturbed position, measured in mm cm or m
Speed: Distance travelled by the wave per unit time,
measured in m/s, cm/s or mm/s
3. # Sound Wavefront: A line drawn to represent the peaks of a wave in
two dimensions. The distance between two adjacent
Longitudinal waves produced by vibrating sources are wavefronts is the wavelength of the wave. Wavefronts can be
known as sound waves. Sound waves require a medium to used to show some properties of waves.
be transmitted (such as air).
Compressions - high pressure ; Rarefactions - low Relationship between speed,
pressure
Solids transmit sound the fastest, liquids are slower, and
frequency and wavelength:
gases are the slowest.
The louder a sound wave is, the greater its amplitude. wave speed = frequency × wavelength ; v =f ×λ
The higher the pitch of a sound wave, the higher its Reflection, refraction and diffraction (using water waves in a
frequency. ripple tank) :
An echo is a reflection of sound waves.
DESCRIBING A METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE SPEED
OF SOUND IN AIR:
Make a noise at a known, significant distance from a solid
wall and record the time it takes for the echo (reflected
sound) to be heard, then use speed = distance/time,
CAIE IGCSE PHYSICS

1 1
Frequency = f=
period (s) T
1 1
Period (s) = T=
Frequency Frequency
CAIE IGCSE PHYSICS

Describe the use of optical fibres, particularly in

Waves telecommunications.
A thin converging lens converges a parallel beam of light.
Thin diverging lens diverges a parallel beam of light.
3.3. Light
The principal focus (focal point) is the point on the
principal axis where parallel waves passing through the
Light is an electromagnetic wave that is capable of
lens meet.
passing through free space or through a material medium
in the form of varying electric and magnetic fields. The principal axis is a line of symmetry passing through
the centre of the lens.
Normal is a line drawn at right angles between the
boundary of two materials. The focal length is the distance from the centre of the lens
to the principal focus
The angle of incidence is the angle made by the incident
How to draw and use ray diagrams for the formation of a
ray to the normal. The angle of reflection is the angle
made by the reflected ray to the normal. real image by a converging lens.
Describe the characteristics of an image using the
The image formed by a plane mirror has the following
terms enlarged/same size/ diminished,
characteristics: same size, same distance from the
upright/inverted and real/virtual.
mirror, and virtual.
Know that a virtual image is formed when diverging
The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is
equal to the angle of reflection. rays are extrapolated backwards and do not form a
visible projection on a screen.
How to use simple constructions, measurements and
Draw and use ray diagrams for the formation of a
calculations for reflection by plane mirrors.
virtual image by a converging lens.
The angle of refraction is the angle made by the refracted
ray to the normal.
Position of Relative size of Nature of
Describe an experiment to show the refraction of light by Position of Image
Object image Image
transparent blocks of different shapes.
Describe the passage of light through a transparent Point sized, Real and
At Infinity At Focus
material. very small Inverted
The critical angle is the angle made to the normal in the Real and
Beyond 2F Between F and 2F Diminished
denser material when the angle of refraction is 90°. Inverted
The equation for critical angle is: Real and
At 2F At 2F Same size
Inverted
Between F Real and
Beyond 2F Enlarged
and 2F Inverted
Huge, very Real and
At Focus F At Infinity
large Inverted
On the same side of
Between F Virtual and
the lens as the Enlarged
and O Erect
object

Describe the use of a single lens as a magnifying glass.

Describe internal reflection and total internal reflection. A converging lens is used to correct long-sightedness.
Refractive index, n, is defined as the ratio of the speeds of A diverging lens is used to correct short-sightedness
a wave in two different regions The dispersion of light as shown by the refraction of white
The equation for refractive index is: light passing through a glass prism.

Know the seven colours (red, orange, yellow, green, blue,

indigo and violet) of white light, and that frequency
increases from red to violet and wavelength decreases
from red to blue.
Visible light of a single frequency or wavelength is
described as monochromatic.