What is it
Students learn that waves transfer energy without transferring matter, the difference between transverse waves (like light) and longitudinal waves (like sound), and key wave properties: amplitude, wavelength and frequency.
Why it matters
This unifies KS2's separate 'light' and 'sound' topics into a single wave model, the foundation for GCSE physics' detailed study of the electromagnetic spectrum and wave calculations.
Exam tip
Learn to label a wave diagram correctly — amplitude is measured from the middle to the peak, not peak to trough — this exact mislabelling is one of the most common exam errors.
Related topics
Want help mastering Waves?
Tell us about the student's goals and confidence — we'll design a personalised plan.