P6: Waves, Optics, Sound and Doppler Effect
Official Cambridge & Imperial ESAT specification requirements for Waves, Optics, Sound and Doppler Effect on the Physics paper. Understand the syllabus boundaries, spot distractor traps engineered by examiners, and master the 2-step Sub-90 shortcuts that compress solve time well below the 88.8-second cutoff.
Official Syllabus Subtopics
Requirements specified in the UAT-UK framework
- 1Transverse vs longitudinal waves (compressions and rarefactions)
- 2Wave speed equation: v = f λ and wave period T = 1/f
- 3Refraction and Snell’s law: n₁ sin θ₁ = n₂ sin θ₂
- 4Critical angle and total internal reflection: sin C = 1/n
- 5Pulse-echo sonar distance formula: d = (1/2) v t
- 6Electromagnetic spectrum ordering by frequency and wavelength
- 7Doppler effect for sound and light (redshift): Δλ / λ = v / c
Sub-90 Exam Speed Tips
How top candidates solve this spec under the 88.8s clock
When a wave transitions between media, its frequency f remains strictly constant; wave speed and wavelength change proportionally.
In pulse-echo sonar questions, always halve the round-trip echo time to find the one-way distance.
Examiners engineer distractor options using common algebraic expansions and sign slips. Always test structural ratios or invariants before calculating arithmetic values.
Tested Topics in Specification P6
Master the individual question patterns and Sub-90 shortcuts for this specification.
Wave Equation (v = fλ), Refraction Invariance, Pulse-Echo Sonar (d = ½vt), Relative Waves & Redshift
Refraction invariant: frequency f NEVER changes across a boundary (v1/λ1 = v2/λ2). For echo/ultrasound, halve time (t/2) immediately; for a particle on a transverse wave, distance per cycle = 4 * Amplitude.
Ready to Master Specification P6 Under Exam Conditions?
Practice timed questions under the authentic Pearson VUE interface with live split stopwatch pacing, dry-wipe scratchpad, and distractor forensics.