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Physics > P12 Wave Properties > Flashcards

P12 Wave Properties Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the differences between P waves and S waves?

A
  • P waves are longitudinal and can travel in liquids and
    solids
  • S waves are transverse and cannot travel in liquids
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2
Q

Name 3 types of seismic waves

A

P waves
S waves
Surface Waves (Longitudinal)

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3
Q

What medium do P waves travel faster in?

A

They travel in solids faster than liquids

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4
Q

What is the “S wave shadow”?

A

A place where only P waves are received, as the S waves cannot travel through the liquid outer core

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5
Q

What are the 4 layers of the Earth?

A

Crust (solid earth and rock)
Mantle (solid)
Outer core (liquid iron and nickel)
Inner core (solid iron and nickel)

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6
Q

Why is the inner core a solid despite being hotter than the outer core?

A

There is a greater pressure on it

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7
Q

Why do P and S waves change direction gradually inside the earth?

A

As there is a gradual change in density, causing the waves to refract, changing their speed, and therefore their direction

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8
Q

Where does the largest change in direction of a seismic wave inside the earth occur, and why?

A

At the boundary between the mantle and inner core, as there is the greatest change in density

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9
Q

How does the amplitude of a wave relate to how much energy it contains?

A

The larger the amplitude, the larger the energy it carries

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10
Q

What is refraction?

A

A wave changing direction after entering a new medium

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11
Q

What is the range of hearing for humans called?

A

The auditory range (20-20,000Hz)

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12
Q

What are ultrasound waves?

A

Waves with a frequency greater than 20,000Hz

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13
Q

What is a special feature of ultrasound waves?

A

They partially reflect at the boundary between two different densities

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14
Q

What does a wave transfer?

A

Energy from one place to another

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15
Q

What causes a wave?

A

A vibration

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16
Q

What is the definition of a transverse wave?

A

A wave whose oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer

17
Q

What is the definition of a longitudinal wave?

A

A wave whose oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer

18
Q

What is a compression?

A

When the particles in a longitudinal wave are closest together

19
Q

What is a rarefaction?

A

When the particles in a longitudinal wave are furthest apart

20
Q

Give 3 examples of longitudinal waves

A
  • P waves
  • Sound waves
  • Ultrasound waves
21
Q

Give 3 examples of transverse waves

A
  • S waves
  • Water waves
  • All electromagnetic waves
22
Q

What the period of a wave?

A

The time it takes for a wave to complete one full oscillation

23
Q

What is the frequency of a wave?

A

The number of waves passing a point each second

24
Q

What direction from the normal do waves bend when they slow down?

A

When waves slow down they bend towards the normal

25
Q

What direction from the normal do waves bend when they speed up?

A

When waves speed up they bend away from the normal

26
Q

In what instance do waves not refract when entering a different medium?

A

When the waves meet/leave the medium at a right angle to the surface

27
Q

Why is the frequency range of the human ear limited?

A

The conversion of sound waves to vibrations of solids only works over a limited frequency

28
Q

Name the mediums that light travels fastest to slowest in

A

Gases, liquids, then solids

29
Q

Name the mediums that sound travels fastest to slowest in

A

Solids, liquids then gases

30
Q

What is the speed of sound?

A

343m/s

31
Q

What are mechanical waves?

A

Waves that require a medium to propagate

Transverse and Longitudinal

32
Q

Describe a method to measure the speed of waves on a string

A
  • Connect a string over a pulley to a vibration transducer
  • Connect a power pack/signal generator to vibration transducer and turn it on
  • Adjust frequency of generator to produce clear waves on the string
  • Count number of wavelengths on the string and divide by the distance they occupy to calculate mean
    wavelength
  • Use v = fλ to calculate speed of the wave

Physics (18 decks)

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