Year 8 in England
7th grade light, sound and waves
3 7th grade light, sound and waves skills, each with a worked example, free practice that checks every answer, and a printable worksheet. Start with a mixed review, or jump to the skill you need.
Mixed review
Ten questions drawn from every skill below.
Speed of sound and echoes
CCSS NGSS.MS-PS4-1England: KS3 Physics: Waves (sound waves)
Example
You see lightning and hear the thunder 2 seconds later. Sound travels at about 340 m/s. About how far away is the storm, in metres?
- 340 × 2 = 680
- So the answer is: 680 m
Answer: 680 m
Builds on: Sound comes from vibrations, Speed = distance ÷ time
Colour, prisms and refraction
CCSS NGSS.MS-PS4-2England: KS3 Physics: Waves (light waves)England: KS4 Combined Science: Light and electromagnetic waves
Example
Why does a red apple look red in white light?
- Coloured objects reflect their own colour and absorb the rest.
- So the answer is: It reflects red light and absorbs the other colours
Answer: It reflects red light and absorbs the other colours
How sound travels through solids, liquids and gases
CCSS NGSS.MS-PS4-2England: KS3 Physics: Waves (sound)
Example
Why does sound travel faster in steel than in air?
- Sound travels at about 340 m/s in air, 1500 m/s in water and over 5000 m/s in steel.
- So the answer is: Particles in solids are close together and strongly linked, so vibrations pass on quickly
Answer: Particles in solids are close together and strongly linked, so vibrations pass on quickly
Builds on: Sound comes from vibrations, The particle model
Leads to: Transverse and longitudinal waves
Keep exploring
More for 7th grade
Science simulations
- Simple circuit simulator
- States of matter simulation
- Animal cell diagram
- Build an atom simulator
- Butterfly life cycle
- Color mixing simulator
- Day and night simulator
- Digestive system diagram
- Float or sink simulator
- Food chain builder
- Balanced and unbalanced forces simulator
- Frog life cycle
- Gravity on other planets simulator
- Human body organs diagram
- Math by topicFractions, times tables, long division and more
- Math by gradeEvery skill from kindergarten to 8th grade
- English and grammarNouns, verbs, commas, spelling and more
- Reading passagesShort stories with read-aloud and questions
- Printable worksheetsPrint, or do them on a tablet with a finger or pen
- Free math games3D games where every move is a math question
- Manipulatives and simulationsMath tools plus science sims: cells, atoms, forces, planets
- Fraction calculatorEvery step shown, from mixed numbers to simplest form
- Math 5-a-dayFive fresh warm-up questions every day
- Guides for parentsHow to help with fractions, tables, tests and more
Math, English and science that click.