Skip to content

A NSW Government website

Welcome to the NSW Curriculum website

NSW Government
NSW Curriculum
NSW Education Standards Authority

7–10Science 7–10 Syllabus (2023)

Record of changes
Implementation from 2026
Expand for detailed implementation advice
OverviewRationaleAimOutcomesContentAssessmentGlossaryTeaching and learning support

Content

Stage 5

Waves and motion

Working scientifically

In this focus area, students develop skills in conducting investigations, as well as processing data and information. Additional Working scientifically outcomes and skills may be integrated with this content.

Loading 
Common properties of waves

  • Demonstrate that a Loading  requires a medium to travel through, while an electromagnetic (EM) wave does not

  • Use the wave model to explain how energy is transferred without the net transfer of particles

  • Use models to compare and describe the features of Loading  and Loading 

  • Compare the different wave regions of the electromagnetic spectrum

  • Loading  the features of waves, including Loading , Loading , speed and Loading  by exploring a range of wave types

  • Use the formula λ = vf to explain the relationship between a wave’s frequency, speed and wavelength

  • Analyse Loading  from Loading  to compare the uses of different EM waves based on their Loading 

Sound waves

  • Model the transfer of sound energy as compressions and Loading  in waves

  • Investigate and describe how amplitude and frequency affect the Loading  and volume of sound

  • Investigate the Doppler effect of waves

  • Describe how the ear responds to sound waves

  • Investigate and outline the impact of material selection on the transfer of sound energy in Loading  traditional musical and communication instruments

  • Describe how sound waves are used in medical diagnosis

Light waves

  • Describe how the eye responds to light

  • Investigate the properties of light, including Loading , Loading , Loading  and Loading 

  • Investigate applications of absorption, reflection and refraction in everyday life

  • Explain how the electromagnetic spectrum is used to learn about stars

Motion

  • Conduct an investigation to analyse the relationships between distance, time, speed, displacement and Loading 

  • Investigate the motion of objects and represent them using motion diagrams

  • Conduct investigations to analyse the relationship between distance, time and speed, and draw and analyse a line graph of the results

  • Conduct an investigation to analyse the relationships between Loading , Loading  and Loading 

  • Investigate applications of Newton’s Loading  of motion

  • Determine, using Loading , the net force on an object in one dimension

  • Use mathematical representations, including graphs and the algebraic formulas F=ma, vav=∆s∆t and a=Δv∆t, to quantitatively relate force, distance, time, speed, displacement, acceleration, velocity and mass
Waves and motion in context

  • Structure an argument to analyse how waves and motion have changed society

Related files