National Curriculum

The Light Express show covers several key areas of the National Curriculum. From Key Stage 4 Double Science, we cover all of the 'Waves' topics; the roadshow particularly concentrates on those areas shown in bold.

Students should know the following:

Characteristics of waves

1. about the reflection, refraction and diffraction of waves, including light and sound as examples of transverse and longitudinal waves
2. the meaning of frequency, wavelength and amplitude of a wave
3. the quantitative relationship between the speed, frequency and wavelength of a wave
4. that waves transfer energy without transferring matter

The electromagnetic spectrum

5. that the electromagnetic spectrum includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet waves, X-rays and gamma rays
6. some ways in which microwaves, infrared and ultraviolet waves are used and the potential dangers of these
7. some uses of X-rays and gamma rays in medicine
8. how information can be transmitted along optical fibres
9. that radio waves, microwaves, infrared and visible light carry information over large and small distances, including global transmission via satellites
10. about ways in which reflection, refraction and diffraction affect communication
11. the difference between analogue and digital signals and how more information can be transmitted