NASA has created an excellent self-contained short study course that covers the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) from an astronomy perspective. This resource therefore has double value for GCSE Physics as it supports learning across the topics of both waves and space.
The course comprises four introductory sections, eight units on parts of the electromagnetic spectrum and a final unit on the Earth’s energy budget. The last of these explains why the Earth should maintain a constant temperature and how man’s activities have caused the temperature to rise (global warming) – all of which is within the GCSE Physics syllabus.
Each unit has a very clear written explanation and a short video (typically around four minutes) that covers the topic from a slightly different angle and in more detail. The entire course is also available as a richly illustrated booklet that can be downloaded free of charge. If you want to jump straight to the booklet, then click here.
So relevant and valuable is this resource that completion of the course is your assignment for this week. You must complete this work as we are nearing the end of your learning on waves and the electromagnetic spectrum so your next assessment is now just around the corner.
To start the course, go to the Introduction page at https://science.nasa.gov/ems/.
When you have completed all of that learning (or to take a break mid-way through) you may want to watch a video that explains why longbow arrows flex as they are fired and during flight. This is, of course, a wave phenomenon – but the details are beyond our course. Nevertheless, it’s a good video (with some great slow motion sections) if you are interested in such things. It’s available by clicking here.
Mr Tarrant's physbang 'blog 