Light and Waves Flashcards
Where does light travel fastest?
Outer space
How is wave speed calculated?
Frequency multiplied by the wavelength
What does the symbol lambda mean?
The wavelength
How is frequency calculated?
Wave speed divided by the wavelength
How is wavelength calculated?
Wave speed divided by the frequency
What does the fact that light can be polarised mean?
It can be modelled as a transverse wave
Which waves have the shortest wavelengths?
Radio waves
What does the brightness of a light source depend on?
The amplitude of the electromagnetic wave
What is the angle of incidence equal to?
The angle of reflection
What can waves travel through?
Air, liquid, gas and space
Which waves require a medium?
Mechanical waves require a medium, non-mechanical waves do not
What does wave motion transfer?
Energy from one point to another 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?
Rarefactions
What are high points of a transverse wave known as?
Crests
What are low points of a transverse wave known as?
Troughs
What happens when light enters a more optically dense medium?
It slows down and bends towards the normal
What happens when light enters a less optically dense medium?
It speeds up and bends away from the normal
What is the order of mediums, from least optically dense to most?
Gas, Liquid, Solid
What is dispersion?
The process responsible for the spectrum that emerges from a triangular prism and led to Newton’s understanding and observation of colour
What happens when the angle of incidence is increased?
The refracted ray bends further away from the normal
What is total internal reflection?
When the angle is greater than the critical angle and there is no refracted ray, instead the whole ray is reflected
What is the relationship between light and the perspex block?
When light enters the block it bends towards the normal and when it leaves the block it bends away from the normal`
What are waves?
An oscillation that travels through space or matter, accompanied by a transfer of energy
What is an example of a mechanical and longitudinal wave?
Sound
What is an example of a non-mechanical wave?
Electromagnetic radiation
What is an example of a transverse wave?
An ocean wave
How do particles in longitudinal waves vibrate?
Back and forth, the direction of their movement is parallel to the direction of the wave
How do particles in transverse waves vibrate?
Up and down or left and right, the direction of their movement is perpendicular to the direction of the wave
