IGCSE physics > Waves > Flashcards

Waves Flashcards

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1
Q

Waves

A

move energy from one place to another, but the particles of the medium do not travel with the wave.

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2
Q

wave motion

A

movement of energy through a medium caused by vibrations (oscillations) of particles.

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3
Q

2 main types of wave

A

-transverse
-longitudinal

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4
Q

transverse

A

a wave where the particles vibrate perpendicular (at right angles) to the direction the wave travels.

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5
Q

longitidunal

A

a wave where the particles vibrate parallel to the direction the wave travels.

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6
Q

examples of transverse

A

-light wave
-water surface wave

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7
Q

example of longitudinal

A

-sound wave
-ultrasound wave
-waves in a spring

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8
Q

wavelength

A

distance between two consecutive points that are in phase (e.g., crest to crest or trough to trough).

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9
Q

frequency

A

The number of waves passing a point per second.

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10
Q

higher the frequency?

A

more wave per second

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11
Q

crest(peak)

A

highest point of a transverse wave

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12
Q

trough

A

lowest point in a transverse wave

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13
Q

wave speed

A

speed at which the wave travels through a medium.

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14
Q

wave speed formula

A

v=fλ

v = wave speed

f = frequency

λ = wavelength

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15
Q

amplitude

A

maximum distance between the equilibrium (rest) position and a crest or trough.

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16
Q

higher the amplitude?

A

more energy

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17
Q

refraction

A

when a wave changes direction because its speed changes when it enters a new medium.

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18
Q

reflection

A

when a wave bounces back into the same medium after hitting a surface.

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19
Q

diffraction

A

the spreading out of waves when they pass through a gap or around an obstacle.

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20
Q

how does a wave diffract

A

When waves pass through a narrow gap, they spread out (diffract) and bend into different directions.

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21
Q

wavelenghts and gap influence on diffraction

A

Large wavelength + small gap → More diffraction

Small wavelength + large gap → Less diffraction

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22
Q

normal

A

line drawn at 90° (perpendicular) to the surface at the point where the ray hits.

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23
Q

angle of incidence

A

angle between the incident ray and the normal.

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24
Q

angle of refraction

A

angle between the reflected ray and the normal.

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25
law of reflection
Angle of incidence = Angle of reflection
26
the formation of an image in a plane vertical mirror
Same size Same distance Laterally inverted → Left and right are reversed. Virtual → The image cannot be formed on a screen. Upright → The image is not upside down.
27
Describe the formation of an optical image by a plane mirror and explain why it is virtual
image is formed at the point where the reflected rays appear to meet when traced backwards behind the mirror.
28
refraction
the change in direction of a light ray when it passes from one medium to another due to a change in speed.
29
Describe the passage of light through a transparent material (limited to the boundaries between two media only)
When light passes from one transparent medium to another, its speed changes at the boundary, causing the light to change direction (refraction).
30
refractive index
tells us how much a wave (like light) slows down when it enters a different medium.
31
snell's law
n=sin i/sin r ​
32
light bends toward what when passing from a less dense to a more dense medium?
toward the normal
33
lights bends toward what when passing from a more dense to a less dense medium?
away from the normal
34
total internal reflection TIR
when light travelling from a denser medium hits the boundary with a less dense medium and is completely reflected back into the denser medium
35
optical fibers
thin strands of glass or plastic that transmit light signals using total internal reflection.
36
some applications of optical fibres
-telecommunication -medical endescope -cable tv
37
critical angle
angle of incidence in the denser medium for which the angle of refraction in the less dense medium is 90*
38
thin converging lens
causes a parallel beam of light to converge at its principal focus.
39
principal axis
is the straight line through the centre of the lens
40
principal focus
is the point on the principal axis where parallel rays converge.
41
focal length
is the distance from the lens centre to the principal focus.
42
enlarged and diminished meaning
Enlarged → bigger than the object Same size → equal to the object Diminished → smaller than the object
43
upright and inverted meaning
Upright → same direction as the object Inverted → upside down compared to the object
44
concave lens
is thinner in the middle and diverges light rays.
45
real image orientation
inverted
46
virtual image orientation
always upright
47
single lens as a magnifying glass
produces a virtual, upright, and enlarged image when the object is placed between the lens and its principal focus.
48
dispersion of light
Dispersion of light is the splitting of white light into its component colours by refraction through a glass prism.
49
seven colours of the visible spectrum
Red → Orange → Yellow → Green → Blue → Indigo → Violet
50
which color has the lowest frequency?
red
51
which color has the highest frequency?
violet
52
which color has the longest wavelength?
red
53
which color has the shortest wavelength?
violet
54
quick memory for color
VIBGYOR
55
electromagnetic spectrum
range of all electromagnetic spectrum
56
what wave in electromagentic spectrum has the lowest frequency?
radio
57
what wave in electromagentic spectrum has the highest frequency?
gamma rays
58
what wave of the electromagnetic spectrum has the shortest wavelength?
gamma rays
59
what wave of the electromagnetic spectrum has the longest wavelength?
radio waves
60
speed of all electromagnetic spectrum
3 x 10^8
61
example of radio wave
-radar -radio and television transmission
62
example of microwave
-microwave oven -mobile(cell)phone
63
example of infrared rays
-remote controlling for television -thermal imagining
64
example of visible light
-photography -lighting
65
ultraviolet rays example
-detecting fake bank note -Sterilising medical equipment
66
x-rays example
-medical scanning -security scanners
67
gamma rays example
-detection of cancer -treatment of cancer
68
all electromagnetic waves
Radio → Microwave → Infrared → Visible → Ultraviolet → X-ray → Gamma
69
ultraviolet ray harmful effect
-damage to skin cell -skin cancer
70
x ray and gamma ray harmful effect
-cell damage -cancer risk
71
production of sound
Sound is produced when an object vibrates. T
72
maximum sound human ear can hear?
20 hz(lowest frequency) 20khz(20,000 hz)(highest frequency)
73
infrasound freuency
below 20 hz
74
Describe the longitudinal nature of sound waves in air as a series of compressions and rarefactions
-are longitudinal waves consisting of a series of compressions and rarefactions -air particles vibrate parallel to the direction of wave travel.
75
rarefraction
region of a sound wave where particles are spread far apart. This creates low pressure
76
compression
region of a sound wave where particles of the medium are close together. This creates high pressure.
77
sound needs what to travel
a medium(solid, liquid or gas) because sound travel by vibration of particles
78
why can't sound travel in a vacuum
since there are no particles to vibrate
79
measure sound
distance divided by time
80
speed of sound in different media
Fastest in solids Slower in liquids Slowest in gases
81
amplitude and loudness
Amplitude = height of the wave. Greater amplitude → louder sound. Smaller amplitude → quieter sound.
82
Frequency and Pitch
Frequency = number of vibrations per second (Hz). Higher frequency → higher pitch. Lower frequency → lower pitch.
83
echo
reflection of a sound wave from a surface
84
ultrasound
sound with a fequency higher than 20 khz
IGCSE physics
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