Physics Cambridge IGCSE Course – Code 0625 and 0972: Chapters 9 and 10 “Waves and Lenses” 

Course Description:

Welcome to our Physics Cambridge IGCSE course, meticulously tailored to help you conquer the intricacies of Chapters 9 and 10: Waves & Lenses. This comprehensive course is specifically designed for both Code 0625 and Code 0972 syllabi, ensuring you’re well-prepared for the IGCSE Physics examination.

Course Highlights:

Comprehensive Core and Supplement Objectives: Master all core and supplement objectives as outlined in the syllabus for all assessment papers. These objectives provide a solid foundation for exam success.

Course Outline & Objectives (Core and Supplement):

1. General properties of waves (Lesson 1): Key objectives include:

• Know that waves transfer energy without transferring matter.
• Describe what is meant by wave motion as illustrated by vibrations in ropes and springs, and by experiments using water waves.
• Describe the features of a wave in terms of the wavefront, wavelength, frequency, crest (peak), trough, amplitude, and wave speed.
• Recall and use the equation for wave speed v = f λ.
• Know that for a transverse wave, the direction of vibration is at right angles to the direction of propagation, and understand that electromagnetic radiation, water waves, and seismic S-waves (secondary) can be modeled as transverse.
• Know that for a longitudinal wave, the direction of vibration is parallel to the direction of propagation, and understand that sound waves and seismic P-waves (primary) can be modeled as longitudinal.
• Describe how waves can undergo:

(a) reflection at a plane surface

(b) refraction due to a change in speed

(c) diffraction through a narrow gap

• Describe the use of a ripple tank to show:

(a) reflection at a plane surface

(b) refraction due to a change in speed caused by a change in depth

(c) diffraction due to a gap

(d) diffraction due to an edge

• Describe how wavelength and gap size affect diffraction through a gap.
• Describe how wavelength affects diffraction at an edge.

2. Light (Lesson 2): Key objectives include:

• Define and use the terms normal, angle of, and angle of reflection.
• Describe the formation of an optical image by a plane mirror, and give its characteristics, i.e. same size, same distance from mirror, virtual.
• State that for reflection, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection; recall and use this relationship.
• Use simple constructions, measurements, and calculations for reflection by plane mirrors.
• Define and use the terms normal, angle of incidence, and angle of refraction.
• Describe an experiment to show the refraction of light by transparent blocks of different shapes.
• Describe the passage of light through a transparent material (limited to the boundaries between two media only).
• State the meaning of critical angle.
• Describe internal reflection and total internal reflection using both experimental and everyday examples.
• Define refractive index, n, as the ratio of the speeds of a wave in two different regions.
• Recall and use the equation.
• Recall and use the equation.
• Describe the use of optical fibers, particularly in telecommunications.
• Describe the dispersion of light as illustrated by the refraction of white light by a glass prism.
• Know the traditional seven colors of the visible spectrum in order of frequency and in order of
• Recall that visible light of a single frequency is described as monochromatic.
• Describe the dispersion of light as illustrated by the refraction of white light by a glass prism.
• Know the traditional seven colors of the visible spectrum in order of frequency and in order of
• Recall that visible light of a single frequency is described as monochromatic.

3. Electromagnetic spectrum (Lesson 3): Key objectives include:

• Know the main regions of the electromagnetic spectrum in order of frequency and in order of wavelength.
• Know that all electromagnetic waves travel at the same high speed in a vacuum.
• Describe typical uses of the different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum including:
• radio waves; radio and television transmissions, astronomy, radio frequency identification (RFID)
• microwaves; satellite television, mobile phones (cell phones), microwave ovens
• infrared; electric grills, short-range communications such as remote controllers for television, intruder alarms, thermal imaging, optical fibers
• visible light; vision, photography, illumination
• ultraviolet; security marking, detecting fake bank notes, sterilizing water.
• X-rays; medical scanning, security scanners
• gamma rays; sterilizing food and medical equipment, detection of cancer and its treatment
• Describe the harmful effects on people of excessive exposure to electromagnetic radiation, including:

(a) microwaves; internal heating of body cells

(b) infrared; skin burns

(c) ultraviolet; damage to surface cells and eyes, leading to skin cancer and eye conditions

(d) X-rays and gamma rays; mutation or damage to cells in the body

• Know that communication with artificial satellites is mainly by microwaves:
• some satellite phones use low-orbit artificial satellites.
• some satellite phones and direct broadcast satellite television use geostationary satellites
• Know that the speed of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum is 3.0 × 10⁸ m/s and is approximately the same in air.
• Know that many important systems of communication rely on electromagnetic radiation including:
• mobile phones (cell phones) and wireless internet use microwaves because microwaves can penetrate some walls and only require a short aerial for transmission and reception.
• Bluetooth uses low-energy radio waves or microwaves because they can pass through walls but the signal is weakened on doing so
• optical fibers (visible light or infrared) are used for cable television and high-speed broadband because glass is transparent to visible light and some infrared; visible light and short-wavelength infrared can carry high rates of data.
• Know the difference between a digital and analog signal.
• Know that a sound can be transmitted as a digital or analog signal.
• Explain the benefits of digital signaling including increased rate of transmission of data and increased range due to accurate signal regeneration.

4. Sound (Lesson 4): Key objectives include:

• Describe the production of sound by vibrating sources.
• Describe the longitudinal nature of sound waves.
• State the approximate range of frequencies audible to humans as 20 Hz to 20 000 Hz.
• Know that a medium is needed to transmit sound waves.
• Know that the speed of sound in air is approximately 330–350 m/s.
• Describe a method involving a measurement of distance and time for determining the speed of sound in air.
• Describe how changes in amplitude and frequency affect the loudness and pitch of sound waves.
• Describe an echo as the reflection of sound waves.
• Define ultrasound as sound with a frequency higher than 20 kHz.
• Describe compression and rarefaction.
• Know that, in general, sound travels faster in solids than in liquids and faster in liquids than in gases.
• Describe the use of ultrasound in non-destructive testing of materials, medical scanning of soft tissue, and sonar including calculation of depth or distance from time and wave speed.

5. Lenses (Lesson 5): Key objectives include:

• Describe the action of thin converging and thin diverging lenses on a parallel beam of light.
• Define and use the terms focal length, principal axis, and principal focus (focal point).
• Draw and use ray diagrams for the formation of a real image by a converging lens.
• Describe the characteristics of an image using the terms enlarged/same size/diminished, upright/inverted, and real/virtual.
• Know that a virtual image is formed when diverging rays are extrapolated backward and do not form a visible projection on a screen.
• Draw and use ray diagrams for the formation of a virtual image by a converging lens.
• Describe the use of a single lens as a magnifying glass.
• Describe the use of converging and diverging lenses to correct long-sightedness and short-sightedness.

Course Benefits:

• Engage with meticulously crafted video lessons, providing comprehensive explanations of each lesson and experiment.
• Access downloadable summary study sheets that condense essential information, aiding your pursuit of an A* grade.
• Enhance your preparation with quizzes and assignments based on past papers to boost your confidence for the exam.
• Become part of a dynamic student group community, where you can interact with fellow learners and the course instructor, asking questions and sharing updates.

Unlock the captivating world of physics and prepare to excel in the IGCSE Physics examination through our “Physics Cambridge IGCSE Course – Code 0625 and 0972 Waves and Lenses”.