Waves

Question 1

properties of waves

Answer 1

EM waves are transverse (oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer)

sound waves are longitudinal - shows areas of rarefaction and compression

mechanical waves can either be transverse of longitudinal

Question 2

What happens during refraction?

Answer 2

refraction:

• wave enters a medium with a different density
• changes speed and direction - bends towards the normal line
• doesn’t refract when it enters at 90 degrees

Question 3

What happens in reflection?

Answer 3

reflection:

• angle of incidence = angle of reflection
• waves can appear to come from a point behind a mirror (virtual image)

Question 4

What happens in diffraction?

Answer 4

waves carry on through barrier but spread out beyond the gap

extent of spreading depends on width of gap in comparison to the wavelength

significant diffraction only happens when the wavelength is of the same order of magnitude as the gap

Question 5

sound

Answer 5

longitudinal waves which cause vibration in a medium, detected as sound