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Year 10 Physics > P12 Wave Properties > Flashcards

P12 Wave Properties Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a wave?

A

A wave is a disturbance that transfers energy through matter or space.

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2
Q

What are the two main types of waves?

A

Mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves.

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3
Q

True or False: Waves require a medium to travel through.

A

True for mechanical waves.

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4
Q

What is the medium in a mechanical wave?

A

The substance through which the wave travels, such as air, water, or solid materials.

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5
Q

What is frequency?

A

The number of complete waves that pass a given point per second.

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6
Q

What is the unit of frequency?

A

Hertz (Hz).

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7
Q

What is wavelength?

A

The distance between two consecutive points in phase on a wave.

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8
Q

What is the formula for wave speed?

A

Wave speed = frequency × wavelength.

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9
Q

What is amplitude?

A

The maximum displacement of points on a wave from its rest position.

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10
Q

True or False: Higher amplitude means more energy carried by the wave.

A

True.

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11
Q

What is a transverse wave?

A

A wave where the oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of wave travel.

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12
Q

What is a longitudinal wave?

A

A wave where the oscillations are parallel to the direction of wave travel.

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13
Q

What is a compression in a longitudinal wave?

A

A region where particles are closer together.

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14
Q

What is a rarefaction in a longitudinal wave?

A

A region where particles are further apart.

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15
Q

What type of waves are sound waves?

A

Longitudinal waves.

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16
Q

What is the speed of sound in air at room temperature (approximately)?

A

About 343 meters per second.

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17
Q

What is the relationship between frequency and wavelength?

A

They are inversely proportional; as frequency increases, wavelength decreases.

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18
Q

What does the term ‘reflection’ refer to in waves?

A

The bouncing back of a wave when it hits a barrier.

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19
Q

What is refraction?

A

The bending of a wave as it passes from one medium to another.

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20
Q

What is diffraction?

A

The spreading out of waves when they pass through a narrow opening or around obstacles.

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21
Q

What is constructive interference?

A

When two waves meet and combine to make a larger amplitude wave.

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22
Q

What is destructive interference?

A

When two waves meet and combine to make a smaller amplitude wave or cancel each other out.

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23
Q

What is a standing wave?

A

A wave that remains in a constant position, formed by the interference of two waves traveling in opposite directions.

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24
Q

What is the principle of superposition?

A

When two or more waves overlap, the resulting displacement is the sum of the individual displacements.

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25
Q

What is a wavefront?

A

A surface over which an oscillation has a constant phase.

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26
Q

What is the Doppler effect?

A

The change in frequency or wavelength of a wave in relation to an observer moving relative to the wave source.

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27
Q

How does the Doppler effect affect sound waves as a source moves toward an observer?

A

The frequency increases (pitch sounds higher).

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28
Q

How does the Doppler effect affect sound waves as a source moves away from an observer?

A

The frequency decreases (pitch sounds lower).

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29
Q

What is a medium’s density’s effect on the speed of sound?

A

Sound travels faster in denser media.

30
Q

What is the electromagnetic spectrum?

A

The range of all types of electromagnetic radiation.

31
Q

What are the different types of electromagnetic waves, from longest to shortest wavelength?

A

Radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays.

32
Q

What is the speed of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum?

A

Approximately 3 × 10^8 meters per second.

33
Q

What is a photon?

A

A particle representing a quantum of light or electromagnetic radiation.

34
Q

What is the relationship between energy and frequency of electromagnetic waves?

A

Energy is directly proportional to frequency; higher frequency means higher energy.

35
Q

What is the formula for calculating the energy of a photon?

A

Energy = Planck’s constant × frequency.

36
Q

What is the visible spectrum?

A

The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to the human eye.

37
Q

What colors make up the visible spectrum?

A

Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.

38
Q

True or False: White light is a combination of all colors of visible light.

A

True.

39
Q

What is a convex lens?

A

A lens that is thicker in the center than at the edges and converges light rays.

40
Q

What is a concave lens?

A

A lens that is thinner in the center than at the edges and diverges light rays.

41
Q

What is total internal reflection?

A

The complete reflection of a light ray back into a medium when it hits the boundary at an angle greater than the critical angle.

42
Q

What is the critical angle?

A

The angle of incidence above which total internal reflection occurs.

43
Q

What is sound intensity?

A

The power per unit area carried by a sound wave.

44
Q

What is the decibel scale used for?

A

To measure the intensity of sound.

45
Q

What is the threshold of hearing in decibels?

A

0 dB.

46
Q

What is the threshold of pain in decibels?

A

Approximately 120 dB.

47
Q

What is resonance?

A

The amplification of a wave when it matches the natural frequency of an object.

48
Q

What is the term for the bouncing back of light when it hits a reflective surface?

A

Reflection.

49
Q

What is the law of reflection?

A

The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection.

50
Q

What is a wave’s period?

A

The time it takes for one complete wave to pass a given point.

51
Q

What is the unit of period?

A

Seconds (s).

52
Q

What is the relationship between frequency and period?

A

Frequency is the reciprocal of the period; frequency = 1/period.

53
Q

What is a wave’s speed when given frequency and wavelength?

A

Wave speed = frequency × wavelength.

54
Q

What is the effect of temperature on the speed of sound in air?

A

The speed of sound increases with an increase in temperature.

55
Q

What is a sound wave’s compression?

A

A region in a longitudinal wave where particles are close together.

56
Q

What is a sound wave’s rarefaction?

A

A region in a longitudinal wave where particles are spread apart.

57
Q

What is the frequency range of human hearing?

A

Approximately 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz (20 kHz).

58
Q

True or False: Sound travels faster in solids than in liquids.

A

True.

59
Q

What is the formula for calculating wave speed?

A

Wave speed = frequency × wavelength.

60
Q

What is the term for the ability of a wave to bend around obstacles?

A

Diffraction.

61
Q

What is the phenomenon called when waves combine to form a new wave?

A

Interference.

62
Q

What is an example of a transverse wave?

A

Light waves.

63
Q

What is an example of a longitudinal wave?

A

Sound waves.

64
Q

What happens to the wavelength of a wave when it moves from a less dense to a more dense medium?

A

The wavelength decreases.

65
Q

What is the effect of a wave hitting a boundary at an angle?

A

It will refract and change direction.

66
Q

What is a wave’s energy directly related to?

A

Its amplitude and frequency.

67
Q

What happens to the frequency of a wave when the wavelength increases?

A

The frequency decreases.

68
Q

What is the term for the point of maximum displacement in a wave?

A

Crest.

69
Q

What is the term for the point of minimum displacement in a wave?

A

Trough.

70
Q

What is the effect of increasing the frequency of a sound wave?

A

It increases the pitch.

71
Q

What is the phenomenon of light bending as it passes through different mediums?

A

Refraction.

Year 10 Physics (17 decks)

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