Medium
Contents
Key Stage 2
Meaning
A medium is any material that sound or light travels through.
About a Medium
- The air is a medium that sound can travel through. If there were no air, sound could not travel from one place to another and we would not hear anything.
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| A vibration causing sound to travel through a medium. |
Key Stage 3
Meaning
A medium is any material that sound or light travels through.
About Media
Sound can travel through the following media:
- Solids - Sound can passes most quickly through solid materials.
- Liquids - Sound can pass through any liquid.
- Gases - Sound can passes most slowly through gases, including air.
Light can travel through the following media:
- Transparent Solids, Liquids and Gases - Light can pass through without being absorbed.
- Translucent Solids, Liquids and Gases - Light passes through translucent solids but some of the light is absorbed.
- Vacuum - Light can pass through a vacuum.
Key Stage 4
Meaning
A medium is any material through which a wave travels.
About Media
Sound can be transmitted through the following media:
- Solids - Sound is transmitted most quickly through solid materials.
- Liquids - Sound is transmitted through any liquid.
- Gases - Sound is transmitted most slowly through gases, including air.
Light can be transmitted through the following media:
- Transparent Solids, Liquids and Gases - Light is transmitted without being absorbed.
- Translucent Solids, Liquids and Gases - Light is transmitted through translucent solids but some of the light is absorbed.
- Vacuum - Light is transmitted through a vacuum at 300,000,000m/s.
- Light can also be scattered when being transmitted through a medium which is when the light collides with a particle in that medium and changes direction. The sky is blue because the Nitrogen in the atmosphere scatters blue light.