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Alevel Physics AS/Alevel > Chapter 11 Waves 1 > Flashcards

Chapter 11 Waves 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the differerence between P waves and S waves?

A

P waves are longitudinal
S waves are transverse

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2
Q

What is a similarity between P waves and S waves?

A

they are both progressive waves

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3
Q

What is a progressive wave?

A

An oscillations that travels through matter.
They transfer energy from one place to another?

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4
Q

What is a transverse wave?

A

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

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5
Q

What are two properties of a transverse wave?

A

Peaks and troughs

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6
Q

What are two examples of a transverse wave?

A

Water wave
any electromagnetic wave
microwaves, gamma rays etc

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7
Q

What is a longitudinal wave?

A

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

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8
Q

What is an examples of longitudinal waves?

A

Sound waves

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9
Q

What is Amplitude?

A

maximum distance from the equilibrium position

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10
Q

What is time period?

A

The time taken for the wave to move one whole wave length from a given position

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11
Q

What is frequency?

A

the number of wavelengths passing a given point per unit time

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12
Q

What is the wave equation?

A

Wavespeed = Wavelength x frequency

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13
Q

What is the frequency equation relating to time period?

A

frequency = 1 / time period

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14
Q

what is the unit of frequency?

A

Hertz (Hz)

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15
Q

What is phase difference?

A

the difference between displacement of a particle on two different waves

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16
Q

What is the equation for phase difference between two points on a wave?

A

Phase difference = ( distance / wavelength ) x 360degrees

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17
Q

When does Reflection occur?

A

when a wave changes direction at the boundary between two media?

18
Q

What is an example of reflection?

A

When light reflects through a mirror?`

19
Q

What is the law of reflection?

A

the angle of incidence = the angle of reflection

20
Q

What is refraction?

A

When a wave changes direction as it changes speed when it passes from one medium to another

21
Q

What is an example of refraction?

A

When a soundwave speeds up when they enter a denser medium

22
Q

How does refraction affect wavelength

A

as the wave slows down when they refract its wavelength decreases

23
Q

how does refraction work in water?

A

when a water wave enters shallower water, it slows down and the wavelength gets shorter

24
Q

What is diffraction?

A

when a wave travels through a gap or travel around an obstacle they diffract and spread out.

25
Q

What is polarisation?

A

particles vibrate in one direction which confines the wave to a single plane

26
Q

Can longitudinal waves be plane polarised?

A

the oscillations are already limited to one plane due to them being parallel in the direction of energy transfered

27
Q

What is partial polarisation?

A

When a transverse wave is oscillating in one plane but it is not plane polarised

28
Q

What is intensity?

A

the radiant power passing through a surface per unit area

29
Q

What is the unit of intensity?

A

Watt per square meter squared

30
Q

what is the equation for intensity?

A

Intensity = Power / Area

31
Q

How are intensity and amplitude related?

A

Intensity is proportional to amplitude^2

32
Q

Describe how a ripple tank might be used to
investigate diffraction

A

● Create water waves in the tank.
● Vary the size of a gap for them to pass
through.
● Note how the direction of the waves passing
through changes.

33
Q

What is an EM wave?

A

electric and magnetic fields oscilating at right angles

34
Q

How are the electromagnetic waves ordered

A

from longest wavelength to shortest

35
Q

which EM wave has the largest wavelength?

A

Radiowaves

36
Q

which EM waves has the shortest wavelength?

A

gamma rays

37
Q

What is meant by the refractive index of
a material?

A

The refractive index is a measure of how fast light travels in
a material compared to its speed in a vacuum.

38
Q

What equation can be used to find refractive index of a material?

A

n = c/v
Where n = refractive index,
c = speed of light,
v = velocity in the material

39
Q

What is the name given to the angle of incidence at
which the light will reflect off a boundary rather than
refracting in the medium?

A

The critical angle.
sinC = 1/n
Where C = critical angle,
n = refractive index of
the material being passed into

40
Q

What is the name given to what happens to light at
angles greater than the critical angle?

A

Total internal reflection.

41
Q

Waves can ‘superpose’ - what does this
mean?

A

Two waves in the same place (ie. one on
top of the other) will combine.

Alevel Physics AS/Alevel (11 decks)

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