Waves

Question 1

Define What total internal refraction is

Answer 1

The angle of incidence required for a total internal refraction

Question 2

Are mechanical waves longitudinal or transverse

Answer 2

Transverse

Question 3

Are electromagnetic waves transverse or longitudinal

Answer 3

Transverse

Question 4

Equivalent name of peaks and troughs within a longitudinal wave

Answer 4

Compressions and Rarefactions

Question 5

Define Polarisation

Answer 5

When fields of an electromagnetic wave only oscillate in one direction

Question 6

Explain how a polarisation filter works

Answer 6

Light is polarised when it passes through a polarising filter. The filter only allows through electric field oscillations in one plane because the filter absorbs energy from oscillations in all other planes.

Question 7

What happens when light passes through 2 polarising filters at different angles

Answer 7

No incident wave gets through

Question 8

If an incident ray moves towards the normal at the surface boundary what does this tell us about the refractive index of both substances

Answer 8

n(1) < n(2)

Question 9

If a ray of light slows as it enters a boundary air to substance what does this tell you about the substance’s refractive index?

Answer 9

Refractive index > 1