Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Physics OCR A'level > Ch11: Waves 1 > Flashcards

Ch11: Waves 1 Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Physics 101 flashcards AP® Physics flashcards
1
Q

What are the features of a progressive wave?

A

An oscillation that travels through matter, or a vacuum. And transfers energy but not matter.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is a transverse wave?

A

A wave in which the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is a longitudinal wave?

A

A wave in which the oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are some examples of a transverse wave?

A

Water waves, electromagnetic waves, waves on a stretched spring, s waves from earthquakes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are some examples of a longitudinal wave?

A

Sound waves, P waves in an earthquake

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is displacement in the case of waves?

A

Distance from equilibrium point, either positive or negative.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is amplitude of a wave?

A

Maximum displacement from equilibrium point

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is wavelength of a wave and what is its symbol?

A

λ. The minimum distance between two in phase points of adjacent waves.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the period of oscillation of a wave?

A

Time taken for a wave to move one wavelength past a given point.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the frequency of a wave?

A

The number of wavelengths passing a given point per unit time.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

If a wave has frequency 7 Hz, how many complete oscillations occur a second?

A

7

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How do you find frequency from a period of a wave?

A

f=1/T T=period

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is phase difference measured in?

A

Degrees or radians

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is antiphase?

A

When two waves are at a phase difference of 180° or π radians.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the angle between an incident ray and the normal?

A

Angle of incidence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the incident ray?

A

The line of a ray entering a material.

17
Q

What is the angle of reflection?

A

The angle between the normal and the reflected ray.

18
Q

What happens to wavelength and frequency when a wave is reflected?

A

They don’t change

19
Q

When a wave slows down which way does it refract?

A

Toward the normal

20
Q

When a wave speeds up which way does it refract?

A

Away from the normal

21
Q

What is polarisation of a wave?

A

When a wave is made to only oscillate in one plane.

22
Q

How is intensity of a wave defined?

A

Power per unit area

23
Q

What is the equation for intensity? Define the terms.

A

I=P/A
I: intensity
P: power
A: area

24
Q

What is the relationship between intensity and distance from surface?

A

Intensity is inversely proportional to r^2. So when distance doubles, intensity reduces by a factor of four.

25
Q

If distance from the sun increased by 4, what would happen to intensity?

A

Decrease by a factor of 16.

26
Q

What is the relationship between intensity and amplitude?

A

Intensity is directly proportional to amplitude squared.

27
Q

What are the four properties of a wave?

A

Transfer energy
Can be refracted
Can be reflected
Can be diffracted

28
Q

What is one property of a transverse wave, that longitudinal waves do not have?

A

They can be polarised.

29
Q

What is the equation for wave speed?

A

v=λf

30
Q

How can the v=fλ equation be modified for EM waves?

A

c=fλ (Because all EM waves travel very close to their speed in a vacuum, which is the same for all EM Waves including light.)

31
Q

How is refractive index of a material calculated and what is its symbol?

A

n=c/v

n: refractive index
c: speed of light in a vacuum
v: speed of light in said material

32
Q

If the refractive index is larger, does it refract toward the normal or away?

A

Toward the normal - as it is going slower.

33
Q

What is the equation for the angle between the incident ray and the normal?

A

nsinθ=k
n= refractive index
k= constant

34
Q

How can the refractive index equation be used be used for light travelling from one medium to another?

A

nsinθ(one material)=nsinθ(second material)

35
Q

What are the two conditions for total internal reflection?

A
  • The ray must be moving from a higher refractive index material into a lower refractive index material.
  • The angle it meets the boundary at must be larger than the critical angle.
36
Q

How is critical angle calculated?

A

sinC=1/n

37
Q

What is the relationship between refractive index and critical angle?

A

Greater the refractive index, n, the lower the critical angle, C.

Physics OCR A'level (19 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions