← Combined Science syllabus

SingaporeCombined Science

Physics: Waves, Electricity and Magnetism

4 dot points across 4 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

What is an electric current, and how are voltage, current and resistance linked in a circuit?

Define current, voltage and resistance, apply Ohm's law, and describe how current and voltage behave in series and parallel circuits
A focused N(A)-Level answer on electricity. Current, voltage and resistance defined, Ohm's law applied, and how current and voltage share out in series and parallel circuits.
8 min answer →

How does light behave when it meets a surface, and how does it fit into the wider electromagnetic spectrum?

Describe reflection and refraction of light, recall the regions and uses of the electromagnetic spectrum, and apply the law of reflection
A focused N(A)-Level answer on light. Reflection and the law of reflection, refraction at a boundary, and the regions and everyday uses of the electromagnetic spectrum.
8 min answer →

How do magnets behave, and how can an electric current be used to make a magnet?

Describe the properties of magnets and magnetic fields, explain how an electromagnet works, and state how its strength can be increased
A focused N(A)-Level answer on magnetism. Magnetic poles and fields, magnetic materials, how a current makes an electromagnet, and how to increase an electromagnet's strength.
7 min answer →

What is a wave, and how does sound travel from a source to your ear?

Describe waves using frequency, wavelength and amplitude, apply the wave equation, and explain how sound travels as a wave that needs a medium
A focused N(A)-Level answer on waves and sound. Frequency, wavelength and amplitude, the wave equation, and how sound travels as a vibration that needs a medium to pass through.
7 min answer →