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Higher Physics (Holy Rood RC) > Particles and Waves > Flashcards

Particles and Waves Flashcards

1
Q

Absolute refractive index

A

the absolute refractive index (or more simply, the refractive index), n, of a medium is the ratio sinθ1/sinθ2
where θ1 is in a vacuum, and θ2 is in the medium

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2
Q

Angle of incidence

A

the angle between the incident ray and the normal

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3
Q

Angle of refraction

A

the angle between the refracted ray and the normal

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4
Q

Atomic mass units (u)

A

by definition one twelfth of the mass of a carbon-12 nucleus

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5
Q

Atomic number

A

the number of protons in an atomic nucleus. It is this number that determines the element

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6
Q

Binding energy

A

the energy needed to split a nucleus into its separate nucleons

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7
Q

Chain reaction

A

when a nucleus undergoes fission it releases neutrons that can go on to collide with other nuclei, causing further fission reactions. If there is a sufficient concentration of suitable nuclei, the process becomes self-sustaining.

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8
Q

Coherent waves

A

coherent waves are waves that have the same frequency, speed and have a constant phase relationship

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9
Q

coherent waves are waves that have the same frequency, speed and have a constant phase relationship

A

part of a spectrometer that is used to produce a parallel beam of light

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10
Q

Critical angle

A

the maximum value of the angle between the normal and the ray in glass, θ glass, for which refraction can occur

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11
Q

Diffraction

A

an effect that causes waves to bend as they go past the end of an obstacle or through a small gap in a barrier

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12
Q

Dispersion

A

the process of splitting up light into its constituent colours

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13
Q

Electromagnetic waves

A

the spectrum of waves that includes radio, visible light, X-rays etc

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14
Q

Excited state

A

any atomic energy level higher than the ground state

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15
Q

Fission

A

the splitting of a large atomic nucleus into smaller fragments, with the resultant release of excess energy

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16
Q

Frequency

A

the number of complete cycles of a wave passing a given point in a given time, usually per second. Frequency is measured in hertz (Hz) where 1 Hz = 1 wave per second.

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17
Q

Fundamental unit of charge

A

e; the magnitude of charge carried by one electron or one proton. Equal to 1.60 x 10-19 coulombs

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18
Q

Grating

A

a transparent slide of glass or plastic that has a very large number of equally-spaced grooves machined on to its surface. Each groove acts as a source for coherent beams of light.

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19
Q

Ground state

A

the lowest energy level of an atom

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20
Q

Induced fission

A

the deliberate splitting of a large nucleus caused by the collision of the nucleus with a neutron

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21
Q

Ionisation level

A

the energy level at which an electron can break free from an atom

22
Q

Irradiance

A

the power per unit area of radiation incident on a surface

23
Q

Isotopes

A

different forms of the same element. The isotopes of an element contain the same number of protons but have different numbers of neutrons.

24
Q

Line absorption spectrum

A

a spectrum that consists of narrow dark lines across an otherwise continuous spectrum

25
Q

Line emission spectrum

A

a spectrum consisting of narrow lines of light, the position of which depend on the substances producing the light

26
Q

Magnetic field

A

a magnetic field is a region in which a moving charge experiences a magnetic force

27
Q

Mass defect

A

the difference between the mass of a nucleus and the total mass of an equal number of individual nucleons

28
Q

Mass number

A

the total number of nucleons in the nucleus of an atom

29
Q

Monochromatic

A

radiation consisting of a single frequency

30
Q

Monochromatic light

A

light of one wavelength (and therefore one colour)

31
Q

Normal

A

a line drawn at right angles to a surface or the boundary between two different media

32
Q

Nucleon

A

the general term for protons and neutrons

33
Q

Nuclide

A

the nuclei of one particular isotope. These nuclei all have the same atomic number and mass number.

34
Q

Path difference

A

the difference in path lengths of two sets of waves

35
Q

Period

A

the time to make one complete wave. Period is measured in seconds.

36
Q

Photocathode

A

the terminal from which electrons will be emitted due to the photoelectric effect

37
Q

Photoelectric effect

A

the emission of electrons from a metal due to the effect of electromagnetic radiation

38
Q

Photoelectrons

A

free electrons produced by the photoelectric effect

39
Q

Photoemission

A

the emission of electrons from a material caused by light shining on it

40
Q

Photon

A

the particle of electromagnetic radiation

41
Q

Principle of reversibility

A

the principle of reversibility states that a ray of light will follow the same path in the opposite direction when it is reversed

42
Q

Radioactive decay series

A

a chain of radioactive decays as a radioactive element changes to eventually become a stable, non-radioactive element

43
Q

Radioisotope

A

short for radioactive isotope

44
Q

Radionuclide

A

short for radioactive nuclide

45
Q

Spectrometer

A

an instrument that can make precise measurements of the spectra produced by different light sources

46
Q

Spontaneous fission

A

the random splitting of a large atomic nucleus due to the internal processes within the nucleus

47
Q

Stopping potential

A

the minimum voltage required to reduce photoelectric current to zero

48
Q

Threshold frequency

A

the minimum frequency of electromagnetic radiation that will cause photoemission for a particular substance

49
Q

Total internal reflection

A

when a ray of light travelling in a more dense substance meets a boundary with a less dense substance at an angle greater than the critical angle, the ray is not refracted but is all reflected inside the more dense substance

50
Q

Valence shell

A

the atomic energy level that contains the outermost electrons of the atom. It is the electrons in this shell that determine the chemical reactions between elements.

51
Q

Work function

A

the minimum energy required to cause photoemission from a particular substance

Higher Physics (Holy Rood RC) (4 decks)

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