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AQA A-Level Physics > 3.0 Waves > Flashcards

3.0 Waves Flashcards

1
Q

What is a wave

A

The propagation of a quantity through the oscillation of a medium

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2
Q

Define amplitude

A

The maximum displacement a point on the wave oscillates from its equilibrium point

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3
Q

Define period

A

The time taken for one complete cycle of a wave

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4
Q

Define frequency

A

The number of cycles of the wave in a second

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5
Q

Define wavelength

A

The distance between two consecutive points in phase

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6
Q

Define speed

A

The rate at which the wave passes through the medium

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7
Q

Define phase

A

The position a point is along the cycle of a given wave

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8
Q

Define phase difference

A

The relative difference in phase between two points on a wave or two waves

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9
Q

What is phase difference measured in

A

As an angle in degrees or radians, or as a fraction of a cycle

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10
Q

Describe the nature of longitudinal waves

A

Direction of displacement parallel to direction of energy transfer

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11
Q

Describe the nature of transverse waves

A

Direction of displacement perpendicular to direction of energy transfer

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12
Q

Medium of longitudinal waves

A

Can propagate through any solid, liquid or gas

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13
Q

Medium of transverse waves

A

Can propagate through solids, some liquids and electromagnetic media

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14
Q

Examples of longitudinal waves

A

Sound waves and a horizontally oscillated slinky

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15
Q

Examples of transverse waves

A

Electromagnetic radiation, water waves and a vertically oscillated slinky

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16
Q

What speed do EM waves travel at in a vacuum

A

All have a speed of 3×10⁻⁸

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17
Q

Define polarisation

A

The process where waves are restricted to oscillate in a specific direction or plane

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18
Q

Describe how polarisation provides evidence for the nature of transverse waves

A

Polarisation restricts oscillation in the perpendicular direction. Only transverse waves can be polarised. So transverse wave oscillate perpendicularly

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19
Q

Applications of polarisers

A

Polaroid material, optical fibers, photography, communication

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20
Q

What are stationary waves

A

Waves that oscillate but don’t pass through a medium

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21
Q

Energy transfer in stationary waves

A

Stationary waves transfer no energy from one point to another

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22
Q

Formation of a stationary wave

A

Formed from the superposition of two coplanar waves with equal wavelengths and magnitudes traveling opposing directions.

23
Q

What is a node on a stationary wave

A

A point of minimum amplitude

24
Q

Formation of a node

A

Waves are in constant antiphase, destructive interference occurs, resulting in point of minimum amplitude

25
Q

What is an antinode on a stationary wave

A

A point of maximum amplitude

26
Q

Formation of an antinode

A

constructive interference occurs, resulting in point of maximum amplitude

27
Q

Formation of stationary waves on a string

A

Oscillator created wave on string which reflects at a fixed point. two waves superpose forming stationary wave

28
Q

Define path difference

A

the difference in distances travelled by two waves

29
Q

Define coherence

A

When two waves have the same frequency and have a fixed phase relationship

30
Q

define monochromatic

A

When waves have the same wavelength

31
Q

Sources of monochromatic light

A

Lasers, filters

32
Q

Define diffraction

A

The process where waves light bends or spreads out when passing close to an object or through a slit in an object

33
Q

Define interference

A

The process where two or more waves combine to form a single resultant wave

34
Q

Youngs double slit experiment

A

The use of two coherent sources or the use of a single source with double slits to produce an interference pattern.

35
Q

Problems with double slit formula

A

assumes small angle approximation so reduces accuracy

36
Q

Describe an interference pattern

A

Equally spaced bright fringes separated by dark fringes, with reducing intensity from the center. Symmetrical on both sides

37
Q

Describe an interference pattern with white light

A

central maxima of white light with outer fringes of spectrums, with red on the outside and green on the inside

38
Q

what are some safety issues with lasers

A

Danger to eyes - wear goggles
Hard to notice - signpost

39
Q

production of maximas in interference patterns

A

Waves are in phase so constructively interfere, creating a resultant wave of maximum amplitude

40
Q

production of minimas in interference patterns

A

Wave are in antiphase so destructively interfere, creating a resultant wave of minimum amplitude

41
Q

define constructive interference

A

When wave are in phase, they superpose and produce a wave of maximum amplitude

42
Q

define destructive interference

A

When wave are in antiphase, they superpose and produce a wave of minimum amplitude

43
Q

how has knowledge progressed

A

New experiments have allowed us to understand the nature of electromagnetic waves

44
Q

Describe a diffraction pattern

A

Central maxima of double width with repeating dark minima and bright maxima of reducing intensity from center. Symmetrical on both sides

45
Q

Describe a diffraction pattern with white light

A

A central maxima of white light with outer maxima being spectra, with red on the outside and green on the inside

46
Q

Applications of diffraction gratings

A

spectrometry, fiber optics, telecommunications, astronomy

47
Q

define refraction

A

The apparent bending of light when passing through a boundary from one medium to another

48
Q

Refractive index of air

A

approximately 1

49
Q

define total internal reflection

A

The complete reflection of light within a material above a certain angle of incidence

50
Q

Parts of a fiber optic cable

A

core which is the medium that the light travels through and the cladding which protects the core and has a low refractive index, providing a low critical angle

51
Q

define material dispersion

A

The broadening of a signal due to differences of speed for different wavelengths in the core

52
Q

define modal dispersion

A

The broadening of a signal due to differing paths taken by different modes

53
Q

Define pulse broadening

A

the spreading out of a signal due to dispersion, causing degradation of the signal

54
Q

Define pulse absorption

A

the reduction of the signal due to absorption of energy in the atoms of the core

AQA A-Level Physics (9 decks)

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