C.3 Wave phenomena SL

Question 1

Wavefronts

Answer 1

Points on a wave that are in phase, showing the direction of wave travel

Question 1

Law of Reflection

Answer 1

States that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection when a wave hits a boundary.

Question 2

Refraction

Answer 2

The bending of waves as they pass from one medium to another, occurring due to the change in wave speed

Question 3

Critical Angle

Answer 3

The angle of incidence in a denser medium at which light is refracted along the boundary, leading to total internal reflection if exceeded

Question 4

Diffraction

Answer 4

The bending of a wave as it travels around a body or through an aperture.

Question 5

Snell’s Law

Answer 5

Describes the relationship between the angles of incidence and refraction, involving the ratio of the sine of these angles and the refractive indices

Question 6

Refractive Index

Answer 6

A measure indicating how much a medium slows down light, calculated as the speed of light in vacuum divided by the speed in the medium

Question 7

When does Total Internal Reflection occur?

Answer 7

when light hits a boundary at an angle greater than the critical angle, reflecting entirely within the denser medium.

Question 8

Speed of Light in Medium

Answer 8

The velocity at which light travels through a given material, influenced by the material’s refractive index.

Question 9

Impact of Incidence Angle on Refraction

Answer 9

Investigates the effect of the angle at which light hits a medium boundary on its path alteration, as influenced by the medium’s speed change.

Question 10

Single-Slit Interference

Answer 10

the result of light passing through a narrow slit, characterized by a specific central bright area followed by alternating light and dark bands

Question 11

Double-Slit Diffraction

Answer 11

Results from the superposition of single-slit interference patterns from each slit, creating a series of light and dark fringes.

Question 12

When does Constructive Interference occur?

Answer 12

when two waves superpose to produce a wave with a greater amplitude, due to path differences being multiples of the wavelength.

Question 13

When does Destructive Interference occur?

Answer 13

Destructive Interference

Question 14

Coherent Sources

Answer 14

Two light sources that emit waves with constant phase difference and same frequency, necessary for clear interference patterns.

Question 15

Rays

Answer 15

Imaginary lines indicating the direction of energy transfer and propagation in a wave. In plane waves, rays are parallel; in spherical waves, they are radial and divergent.