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Physics > Light & Waves > Flashcards

Light & Waves Flashcards

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1
Q

Wave

A

Transfer of energy but not matter

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2
Q

Transverse Wave

A

Oscillations are perpendicular to the transfer of energy
- S waves
- light

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3
Q

Longitudinal Wave

A

Oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer
- P waves
- sound

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4
Q

Wavelength λ

A

The shortest distance between two points on a wave that are in phase

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5
Q

Frequency

A

The number of oscillations per second (Hz)

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6
Q

Time Period

A

The time taken for one oscillation (s)

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7
Q

Peak

A

The maximum positive displacement of a wave

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8
Q

Trough

A

The maximum negative displacement of a wave

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9
Q

Equilibrium Position

A

The rest position of the medium if there wasn’t a wave moving through it

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10
Q

Amplitude

A

The maximum displacement of a wave

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11
Q

Displacement

A

The distance a point is from the equilibrium

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12
Q

Wavefront

A

A line representing the points on a wave that are all in phase and the same distance from the source of the wave

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13
Q

In Phase

A

Waves that have identical physical properties
- speed
- velocity
- displacement
- acceleration

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14
Q

Anti-phase

A

When points on a wave has opposite physical properties

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15
Q

Transmission

A

When a wave passes through a material

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16
Q

Absorption

A

When a wave’s energy is transferred to the material it passes through

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17
Q

Reflection

A

When a wave bounces off an interface between two different media, back to its original medium

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18
Q

Specular Reflection

A

Waves reflecting parallel to each other off a smooth surface

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19
Q

Diffuse Reflection

A

Waves reflecting off an irregular surface in random directions

19
Q

Diffuse Reflection

A

Waves reflecting off an irregular surface in random directions

20
Q

Primary Colours

A

Red
Blue
Green

21
Q

Secondary Colours

A

Magenta
Cyan
Yellow

22
Q

White Light

A

Contains all colours on the spectrum
Mixing all three primary colours produces white light

23
Q

Filter

A

Absorbs some colours and allows other colours to transfer through the filter

magenta object + red filter = blue object

red object + red filter = black object

24
Q

Speed of Light

A

3 x10⁸ m/s

25
Q

Refraction

A

When light enters a medium of different density and changes speed. The change in speed causes the ray to bend. The wavelength changes but frequency always stays the same

26
Q

Incident Ray

A

The ray of light entering the new medium

27
Q

Refracted Ray

A

The ray of light that gets bent in the second medium

28
Q

Emergent Ray

A

The ray of light that leaves the second medium and returns to it’s original velocity

29
Q

Angle of Incidence

A

The angle from the normal to the ray of incidence

30
Q

Angle of Refraction

A

The angle from the normal to the refracted ray

31
Q

Critical Angle

A

The angle from the normal to the incident ray when the refracted ray is parallel to the surface of the medium

32
Q

Total Internal Reflection

A

When the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle, all of the light is reflected back

33
Q

Fibre Optic Cables

A

Thin glass cables that transmit binary values in pulses of light using total internal reflection

34
Q

Convex Lens

A

(Converging lens) Outwards bend

Parallel rays of light that are parallel to the principal axis will refract inwards and converge at the focal point

35
Q

Concave Lens

A

(Diverging lens) Inward bend

Parallel rays of light will refract away from each other. Adding virtual rays to the diagram show the rays crossing at the nearside focal point

36
Q

Virtual Images

A

When real rays do not meet. Virtual rays can be drawn to form a virtual image. They cannot be projected onto a screen. Mirrors

37
Q

Real Images

A

When real rays meet to form a real image. They can be projected onto a screen

38
Q

Power of a Lens

A

P = 1/focal length
measured in dioptres

39
Q

Focal Length

A

The distance between the (optical) centre of the lens to the focal point

40
Q

Magnified

A

When the image is bigger than the object

41
Q

Diminished

A

When the image is smaller than the object

42
Q

Magnification

A

image height / object height

43
Q

S Waves

A
  • Transverse
  • Only travel through solids → shadow zone
  • Slower but more destructive (oscillate perpendicularly to energy transfer)
44
Q

P Waves

A
  • Longitudinal
  • Travel through solids + liquids
  • Faster but less destructive

Physics (8 decks)

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