IGCSE Waves Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a wave?

A

Waves transfer ENERGY and INFORMATION without transferring MATTER.

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2
Q

What is the definition of a LONGITUDINAL Wave?

A

Vibrations are PARALLEL to the direction of the wave.

e.g. sound, Secondary Earthquake Waves

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3
Q

What is the definition of a TRANSVERSE Wave?

A

Vibrations are PERPENDICULAR to the direction of the wave.

e.g. water, rope, electromagnetic waves(light)

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4
Q

How do you measure WAVELENGTH?

A

The distance between a particular point on a wave and the same point on the next wave.

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5
Q

How do you measure AMPLITUDE?

A

Amplitude is the maximum displacement of particles from their rest position.
(i,e, the height of the wave from the centre line).

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6
Q

What is meant by the PERIOD of a wave?

A

The time for one complete cycle of the wave

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7
Q

What is the definition of FREQUENCY?

A

Frequency is the number of waves per second

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8
Q

What is DIFFRACTION?

A

Diffraction is the spreading out of waves around an edge or a gap.

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9
Q

When does the most DIFFRACTION occur?

A

The most diffraction occurs when the gap is the same size as the wavelength.

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10
Q

What type of wave is sound?

A
  • Sound is a LONGITUDINAL wave.
  • The source of the sound pushes particles closer together causing regions of high pressure (compression). Then they move further apart resulting in low pressure (rarefaction).
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11
Q

Describe an experiment to measure the speed of sound.

A

• Start the stop clock when smoke appears as the gun is fired.
• Stop the clock when bang is heard.
• Measure the distance between observer and gun, using a trundle wheel.
• Speed , s = d÷t
(Remember light travels faster than sound)

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12
Q

What is the range of Human Hearing?

A

20 – 20 000 Hz

Frequencies above 20,000Hz are Ultrasound.

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13
Q

How does changing the AMPLITUDE affect a sound wave?

A

The larger the AMPLITUDE, the larger the vibration of the source so the LOUDER the sound.

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14
Q

How does changing the FREQUENCY affect a sound wave?

A

The higher the FREQUENCY the higher the PITCH.

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15
Q

What type of wave is light?

A

Light is a TRANSVERSE wave which is part of a family of waves called the Electromagnetic Spectrum.

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16
Q

What is the law of reflection?

A

Angle of incidence = Angle of reflection

17
Q

What are the properties of an image in a plane mirror?

A

Properties of image in a plane mirror.
• The image is as far behind the mirror as the object is in front.
• The image is the same size as the object.
• The image is virtual
• The image is laterally inverted.

18
Q

What is refraction?

A
  • Light slows down and bends towards the normal when it enters optically denser medium.
  • Light speeds up and bends away from the normal when it speeds up.
19
Q

What is a wavefront?

A

Wavefronts are perpendicular to wave direction.

They are line connecting all the points in reached by a wave or vibration at the same time.

20
Q

When does total internal reflection occur?

A

When the angle if incidence is greater than the critical angle.

21
Q

What happens when the angle of incidence is equal to the critical angle?

A

The ray emerges along the edge of the block.

22
Q

What happens when the angle of incidence is less than the critical angle.

A

The ray is refracted.

23
Q

What is DISPERSION?

A
  • A spectrum is formed when white light passes through a prism.
  • Different colours of light have different frequencies which slow down to different speeds so each colour is refracted by a different angle.
  • Violet light is refracted more than red light.
24
Q

What properties do all electromagnetic waves have in common?

A

All electromagnetic waves:
• Travel at the same speed in a vacuum (empty space) 300,000,000m/s
• Are transverse waves

25
Q

List the parts of the EM spectrum in order of:
• decreasing wavelength
• and increasing frequency?

A

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