 No Brain Too Small  PHYSICS 
AS91170 Version 1
Demonstrate understanding of waves
Level 2 Credits 4
This achievement standard involves demonstrating understanding of waves.
Achievement
Achievement with Merit
Achievement with Excellence
Demonstrate understanding
of waves.
Demonstrate in-depth
understanding of waves.
Demonstrate comprehensive
understanding of waves.
Written statements include mathematical solutions and/or descriptions. Descriptions may include
graphs or diagrams.
LIGHT
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Reflection
Reflection in curved mirrors
Ray diagrams for plane and curved mirrors
Refraction
Refraction through lenses
Ray diagrams for convex and concave lenses
Snell’s law including the graphing of sin I and sin r
Total internal reflection
Critical angle at a plane boundary
WAVES
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Properties of electromagnetic waves
Reflection at a plane boundary
Refraction at a plane boundary
Phase and wave parameter upon reflection & refraction
Superposition of pulses
Diffraction
2-point source interference (qualitative)
SKILLS
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The appropriate use of significant figures
The appropriate use of units
-2
2
Negative index (e.g. ms ) notation or slash notation (e.g. m/s )
 No Brain Too Small  PHYSICS 
Notes
RELATIONSHIPS:
1 1
1
=
+
f do di
d i hi
m=
=
d o ho
or
or
si so = f 2
f si
=
m=
so f
n1 sin θ1 = n 2 sin θ 2
v =fλ
1
f =
T
n1 v 2 λ 2
=
=
n2 v 1 λ 1
v=
d
t
Demonstrate understanding involves writing statements that show an awareness of how simple
facets of phenomena, concepts or principles relate to a described situation.
Demonstrate in-depth understanding involves writing statements that give reasons why
phenomena, concepts or principles relate to a described situation. For mathematical solutions, the
information may not be directly usable or immediately obvious.
Demonstrate comprehensive understanding involves writing statements that demonstrate
understanding of connections between concepts.
This achievement standard replaces AS90254, unit standard 6382, and unit standard 8768.