Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Physics GCSE > Waves (11) > Flashcards

Waves (11) Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 2 types of wave

A

Longitudinal

Transverse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

A longitudinal wave is where the direction of the wave is ____________ to the direction of particles vibration

A

Parallel

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Example of a longitudinal wave

A

Sound wave

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

A transverse wave is where the direction of the wave is ________________ to the direction of particles vibration

A

Perpendicular

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Example of a transverse wave

A

Light waves, microwaves, x rays, radio waves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the amplitude

A

The height of a wave from its mean position/undisturbed position

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the wavelength

A

The distance between successive crests or troughs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the frequency

A

The amount of waves passing a point in 1 second

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Unit of amplitude

A

Meters

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Unit of wavelength

A

Meters

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Unit of frequency

A

Hertz

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the time period

A

The time taken by a wave in crossing a certain point

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Equation for wave speed:

A

Wave speed = Frequency x wavelength

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

1Kilohertz = _________ hertz

A

1000

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

All waves transfer energy and information without transferring ___________

A

Matter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is diffraction

A

When a wave bends round edges or through gaps

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Diffraction causes waves to ________ round an object

A

Bend

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What does the amount of diffraction depend on

A

The size of the gap relative to the wavelength of the wave

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

The narrower the gap or longer the wavelength, the ________ the wave spreads out

A

More

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What are the 7 types of electromagnetic (EM) wave

A

Radio waves

Micro-waves

Infra-red

Visible light

Ultra-violet

X-rays

Gamma rays

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

The different colours of visible light depend on the wavelength - red has the ____________ wavelength and violet has the ______________ wavelength

A

Longest

Shortest

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Time period equation:

A

T = 1/f

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Frequency equation:

A

F = 1/T

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

How long is one wavelength

A

From the middle to 1 peak and 1 trough and back to the start

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What is the audible range of sound for a human
20-20000Hz
26
If frequency is greater than 20000Hz then it is known as \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Ultrasound
27
A louder sound has a ______________ amplitude
Higher
28
A quieter sound has a _____________ amplitude
Lower
29
A higher pitch has a __________ frequency
Higher
30
A lower pitch has a __________ frequency
Lower
31
What is the speed of sound
340m/s
32
The maximum disturbance caused by a wave is called its \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Amplitude
33
What are the 2 laws of reflection
1) Angle of incidence = angle of reflection 2) Incident ray, reflected and normal are in the same plane
34
What is refraction
The bending of light as it travels from one optical medium to another
35
How do you find the refractive index
Sin i / Sin r
36
How to find the angle of refraction
Angle of refraction = angle of index / refractive index Sin r = Sin i / R.I Once you have found Sin r you must do Sin-1 (sin r) E.g if I = 46 and R.I = 1.45 Then do Sin I and then divide that by 1.45 You will get 0.5 which is Sin r But you just want r so you do Sin−1(0.5) And you will find just r on its own which is 30
37
Conditions for Total Internal Reflection
Ray of light should travel from more dense material to less dense material. Angle of incidence should be greater than the critical angle
38
What is the critical angle
The angle of incidence at which the angle of refraction becomes 90 degrees and light starts to bounce back
39
Refractive index equation in total internal reflection
1 / Sin ic (ic = critical angle)
40
What is the critical angle (in degrees)
42 degrees
41
At the critical angle, the angle of refraction is _____ degrees
90 degrees
42
What does the refractive index tell you
How fast light travels in that material
43
Light slows down a lot in glass, so the refractive index is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
High
44
Describe an experiment to find the refractive index of a glass block
Draw around a rectangular block on a piece of paper and direct a ray of light through it at an angle. Trace the ray entering and the ray leaving the block before removing the block and drawing in the refracted block. Then, draw in the normal at 90 degrees to the edge of the block at the point where the ray enters the block. Then measure the angle of incidence and the angle of refraction. Then calculate the R.I using Snell's law R.I = Sin i / Sin r. Done.
45
How do you use Snell's law to find critical angles
Sin C (critical angle) = 1 / R.I
46
The higher the R.I the _____________ the critical angle
Lower
47
What do optical fibres use
Total internal reflection
48
How is sound sent by phones
It is turned into electrical energy and back into sound energy
49
What are the 2 types of electromagnetic signals
Analogue Digital
50
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ signals vary whereas ___________ signals are either on or off
Analogue Digital
51
When you amplify an ______________ signal, the noise is amplified too - so every time it's amplified, the signal loses quality. However with a ___________ signal, the noise is just ignored, so the signal remains high quality
Analogue Digital
52
If analogue waves are of a similar frequency, it can cause \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Interference
53
Name a machine that can display sound waves
An oscilloscope
54
What do we mean by a 'normal' line
The line perpendicular or at 90° to the mirror
55
When is light refracted away from the normal line?
As it is leaving the glass into the air
56
Why is a wave refracted?
The speed of the wave changes
57
What do we get at low angles of incidence (i)
Refraction
58
At the critical angle light does what?
Travels across the edge
59
What happens if angle i is above the critical angle
Total Internal Reflection
60
The critical angle is the angle at which ________ starts
Total internal reflection
61
As light is entering a glass block. It comes in at the ____ angle as it comes out
Same
62
Give 2 examples of what are optical fibres used for
Telecommunications Endoscopes in medicine
63
State a benefit of optical fibres
Very fast signals
64
What is the difference between convex and concave
Concave, ) ( Convex ( ) Concave bends the light further apart
65
White light consists of ___ colours
All colours
66
What is the order of the electromagnetic spectrum
Radiowaves Microwaves Infrared Visible light Ultraviolet rays X-rays Gamma rays
67
Does frequency increase as you go up or down the electromagnetic spectrum
Frequency increases as you go down the spectrum so gamma has the highest frequency
68
Does wavelength increase as you go up or down the electromagnetic spectrum
Wavelength increases as you go up the spectrum so radiowaves have the highest wavelength
69
Does energy increase as you go up or down the electromagnetic spectrum
Energy increases as you go down the spectrum so gamma has the highest energy
70
Give one use of radiowaves
Communication
71
Give one use of microwaves
Cooking Communication
72
Give one use of infrared
Remote controls Security systems Night vision
73
Give one use of visible light
Vision Photography
74
Give one use of ultraviolet rays
Sun beds
75
Give one use of x-rays
X-rays (observing the internal structure of objects)
76
Give one use of Gamma rays
Sterilisation of food and equipment treating cancer
77
Dangers of radiowaves (due to over exposure)
Nothing
78
Dangers of microwaves (due to over exposure)
Internal heating of body tissue
79
Dangers of infrared (due to over exposure)
Skin burns
80
Dangers of visible light (due to over exposure)
Damage eyes
81
Dangers of ultraviolet (due to over exposure)
Damage to skin + eyes including cancer
82
Dangers of x rays (due to over exposure)
Damage to cells leading to burns and cancer
83
Dangers of gamma rays (due to over exposure)
Damage to cells leading to burns and cancer

Physics GCSE (22 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions