3.3.1.2 - Longitudinal And Transverse Waves Flashcards
What are all electromagnetic waves?
Transverse
How do transverse waves travel?
Vibrations perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer.
What are other examples of transverse waves?
Waves on a string and ripples on water.
What 2 graphs can transverse waves be shown on?
Displacement-distance and displacement-time
What is the most common longitudinal wave?
Sound
How do longitudinal waves travel?
Vibrations in same direction as energy transfer.
What sort of waves does polarisation occur in?
Transverse
What is proof that electromagnetic waves are transverse?
They can be polarised.
How can light waves be polarised?
Using a polarising filter.
When will no light get through?
When you have two polarising filters at right angles to one another, as polarising filters only transmit vibrations in one direction.
When does light become partially polarised?
When reflected in some surfaces.
What are uses of polarisation?
Polaroid sunglasses block out unwanted glare. TV and radio signals are also polarised.
How and why are TV signals polarised?
By the orientation of the rods and the receiving aerial with the rods on the transmitting aerial.
What happens if TV aerials aren’t aligned properly?
The signal strength will be lower.
