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A-Level Physics > Waves > Flashcards

Waves Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a progressive wave?

A

An oscillation that travels through matter transfering energy from one place to another, but not transfering matter.

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2
Q

What are the two types of progressive waves?

A

Transverse and longitudinal

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3
Q

What is a transverse wave?

A

When the oscillation are perpendicular to the direction of wave travel.

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4
Q

What are examples of transverse waves?

A

Electromagnetic waves and waves on water.

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5
Q

What is a longitudinal wave?

A

Where the oscillation sare parallel to the direction of energy transfer

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6
Q

What is an example of a longitudinal wave?

A

Sound waves.

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7
Q

What is the definition of displacement?

A

The distance from the equilibrium position in a particular direction.

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8
Q

What is the definition of amplitude?

A

The maximum displacement from the origin

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9
Q

What is the definition of wavelength?

A

The minimum distance between two agencent points on a wave oscillating in phase

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10
Q

What is the definition of period?

A

The time taken for a full oscillaiton of one wavelength to pass a given point.

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11
Q

What is the definition of frequency?

A

The number of complete oscillations passing a given point per unit time

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12
Q

What is the definition of wave speed?

A

The distance travelled by a wave per unit time.

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13
Q

What is phase difference?

A

It is the difference in displacement of particles along a wave or in two different waves.

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14
Q

What is the equation for working out the phase difference of a wave?

A

x/lambda * 2pi, where x is the seperation between two particles, lamda is the wavelength

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15
Q

What is antiphase?

A

When to particles are oscillating with a phase difference of pi and are therefore half a wavelength apart.

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16
Q

When are two particles in phase?

A

When there phase difference is a multiple of pi.

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17
Q

How do you determine the frequency of a wave?

A

Using an oscilloscope, then work out itme period, then work out frequency.

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18
Q

What can be reflected, refracted and diffracted?

A

All progressive waves

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19
Q

When does reflection occur?

A

When a wave changes direction at a boundary between two media, remaining in the original medium

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20
Q

What stays the same when reflection occurs?

A

Wavelength and frequency and therefore the wave speed.

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21
Q

When does refraction occur?

A

When a wave changes direciton as it changes speed when it enters a new medium.

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22
Q

What stays constant when refraction occurs?

A

The frequency

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23
Q

How do sound waves change in denser materials?

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A

They speed up

24
Q

How do electromagnetic waves change in denser materials?

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A

They slow down

25
What changes when refraction occurs?
The wavelength
26
What is diffraction?
The spreading out of wave front as it passes through a gap.
27
What stays the same when diffraction occurs?
The wavelength and frequency
28
When will maximum diffraction occur?
When the gap is the same size as the wavelength.
29
When can polarisation occur?
Only in transverse waves
30
What is polarisation?
When the oscillation of a wave is restricted to one plane only
31
What is plane polarised?
When teh wave is restricted to one plane only
32
Why cant longitudinal wave experience polarisation?
The direction of energy transfer is already in one plane only (in transverse wave, the oscillations occur in many planes at right angles to the direction of travel)
33
What can be used to demonstrate wave properties?
A ripple tank
34
How can a ripple tank show refraction?
The depth can be ajusted
35
How is a wave made in a ripple tank?
Using an electric motor
36
How can a ripple tank show refraction?
A slit can be added
37
How can polarisation of visibile light be shown?
Polarising filters can be used.
38
What happens if two polarising filters are on to of eachother at 90 degree angles?
The light intensity will decrease down to a minimum as the light polarised in one filter can't pass through the filter which is polarsied in the perpendicular direction.
39
What is the intensity of a progressive wave?
The radiant power passing at right angles through a surface per unit area.
40
How does intensity of light relate to the square of the radius?
They are inversly proportional.
41
How does the intensity and amplitude relate?
Intensity is proportional to amplitude squared.
42
What are electromagnetic wave?
They are transverse progressive waves that consist of magnetic and electric fields which oscillate at right angles to each other.
43
What speed do electromagnetic waves travel at?
3 x10^8
44
Can electromagnetic waves travel through a vacuum?
Yes
45
What is the typical wavelength of radio waves? (m)
A few millimeters to hundreds of kilometers, 10^3
46
What is the typical wavelength of microwaves?
1m to 1mm, 10^-2
47
What is the typical wavelength of infrared waves?
Between 780nm and 1mm, 10^-5m
48
What is the typical wavelength of visible light?
400-700nm, 0.5x10^-6m
49
What is the typical wavelength of ultraviolet?
100-400nm, 10^-8m
50
What is the typical wavelength of x-rays?
0.01-10nm, 10^-10
51
What are the typical wavelengths of gamma rays?
Less than 10pm, 10^-12m
52
When does refraction occur?
Refraction occurs because when a ray enters a new medium its speed changes.
53
What can the refractive index be used to determine?
It can be used to determine the angle of refraction in to the medium
54
When does total internal reflection occur?
It occurs at a boundary between two transparent media with no refraction
55
What two conditions must be met for total internal reflection to occur?
The light must be travelling from a material with a higher refractive index into a lower one. The angle of incidence must be above the critical angle of the material
56
What is the principle of superposition?
When two waves meet at a point is equal to the sum of displacements of the individual waves
57

A-Level Physics (4 decks)

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