Light and Sound Flashcards
What does the fact that light can be polarised confirm about the way light can be modelled?
Light can be modelled as a transverse wave
Which type of electromagnetic radiation has the shortest wavelength?
Radio Waves
What does the brightness of a light source depend on?
The amplitude of the electromagnetic wave
List the electromagnetic spectrum in order of increasing frequency?
- Radio Waves 2. Microwaves 3. Infrared 4. Visible Light
5. Ultraviolet 6. X-Rays 7. Gamma Rays
What is the approximate wavelength of red?
700
What is the approximate wavelength of yellow?
580
What is the approximate wavelength of green?
525
What is the approximate wavelength of blue?
460
What is the approximate wavelength of violet?
410
What best summarises the laws of reflection?
The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection
What can waves travel through?
Air, solids, liquids and space
Which waves require a medium?
Mechanical waves, non-mechanical waves do not
What does wave motion transfer?
Energy from one point to another often with no transfer of the material of the medium
What are sections that are pushed together in longitudinal waves called?
Compressions
What are sections that are stretched out in longitudinal waves called?
Rarefaction
What is the high point of a transverse wave called?
Crest
What is the low point of a transverse wave called?
Trough
What do convex mirrors do?
They reflect light so that it looks to be diverging from a point behind the mirror
What do concave mirrors do?
The greater curvature of the mirror, the shorter the focal length
What is sound caused by?
Vibration
What is sound?
A mechanical wave, caused by an oscillation through solid, liquid or gas
What is the speed of light through air?
300,000 kms/second
What is the connection between the number of waves and the pitch of the sound?
The more the number of waves, the higher the pitch of the sound
What do all plane mirrors show?
A virtual image of the same size
Which type of lens is required for hyperopia (long-sightedness)
Convex Lens
Which type of lens is required for myopia (short-sightedness)
Concave Lens
Where does light bend when it leaves the perspex block?
Away from the normal
Where does light bend when it enters the perspex block?
Towards the normal
What does the law of refraction state?
When light enters a more optically dense medium it slows down and bends towards the normal
What else does the law of refraction state?
When light enters a less optically dense medium it speeds up and bends away from the normal
What is dispersion?
The process responsible for the spectrum that emerges from a triangular prism
