NEW AQA Physics (2016) - Light, infrared, microwaves and radio waves

This lesson is designed for the NEW AQA Physics GCSE, particularly the ‘The Electromagnetic Spectrum’ SoW.

For more lessons designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA Trilogy specifications for Biology, Chemistry and Physics please see my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience

The lesson begins with a teacher demonstration, whereby a light will be shone through different coloured filters. Students should make a note of their observations, and in pairs they should discuss what they are observing. An explanation is provided on the next slide, which demonstrates to students that when white light, which contains all colors, passes through a colored filter, the filter absorbs all colors except for the color of the filter itself, which is transmitted through.

Next, an image is shown to students of light passing through a prism. Students are shown the diagram of visible light passing through the prism, and then refracted the other side, and are asked a series of questions which they can answer in their books. The answers to this task are on the next slide, so students can assess their work.

Next, students will watch a video about uses of microwaves and infrared radiation. Students should answer the set of questions provided whilst watching, and then self-assess their work using the mark scheme provided.

The next activity requires students to walk around information points around the room, to read about the uses of microwaves, radio waves and infrared. They should complete a table of information in their books whilst doing this. After this, students will be given a worksheet of questions to complete on the topic of the lesson, the answers are provided in a separate document which can be used for assessment.

The last activity is an extended response questions, which students can also complete and mark or teacher’s can assess whilst marking the books to check students understanding of the lesson.

The plenary task requires students to complete one of the sentence starters provided, to summarise what they have learned this lesson.

All resources are included. Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated.