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Pro Physics > P13 > Flashcards

P13 Flashcards

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1
Q

What type of radiation is used to transmit a signal in an optical fibre?

A

Visible light

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2
Q

What is the critical angle?

A

The minimum angle at which total internal reflection takes place

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3
Q

Uses of total internal reflection

A
  • fibre broadband
  • doctors look at patients using endoscope
  • decorations like Christmas tree lights
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4
Q

What are the two types of seismic waves?

A

P-waves and S-waves

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5
Q

Similarities and differences between P and S waves

A

P waves. S waves
longitudinal. transverse
faster. slower
solids n liquids. solids

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6
Q

What is a black body?

A

An object that absorbs all radiation falling on it, at all wavelengths, is called a black body.

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7
Q

What happens when an object is at a constant temperature?

A

This means that the object is absorbing radiation at the same rate at which it is emitting radiation.

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8
Q

What is a lens?

A

A lens is a transparent block that causes light to refract to form an image.

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9
Q

Why are microwaves used for satellite communication and not radio waves?

A

Microwaves pass straight through the atmosphere and are suitable for communicating with distant geostationary satellites, while radio waves are suitable for communicating with satellites in low orbit.

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10
Q

What properties make radio waves ideal for communication?

A

Radio waves are transmitted easily through air. They do not cause damage if absorbed by the human body, and they can be reflected to change their direction.

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11
Q

What type of seismic wave travels faster?

A

P waves travel much faster than S waves

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12
Q

What happens to S waves when they reach the boundaries of the Earth’s structure?

A

When S waves reach the boundaries of the Earth’s structure they both reflect and refract, causing them to travel in curved paths.

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13
Q

What type of wave has areas of rarefaction and compression?

A

Longitudinal

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14
Q

How does the wavelength of a wave affect its range?

A

Longer wavelengths travel further but carry less information; shorter wavelengths have shorter ranges but can carry more information.

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15
Q

What is a convex lens?

A

A convex lens is thicker in the middle than it is at the edges and converges light into one point called the focal point.

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16
Q

What is a concave lens?

A

A concave lens is thinner in the middle than it is at the edges. This causes parallel rays to diverge.

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17
Q

What happens to a wave if it crosses a boundary at an angle and slows down?

A

It bends towards the normal

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18
Q

What is the object called in which charges oscillate to create the radio waves?

A

A transmitter

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19
Q

What is an opaque object?

A

An object in which no light is transmitted

20
Q

What type of object is the best possible emitter of radiation?

A

A perfect black body

21
Q

What is the wave speed?

A

The speed at which energy is transferred through a medium

22
Q

Wave period formula

A

period = 1/frequency

23
Q

What does the size of refraction depend on?

A

How much the wave speeds up or slows down

24
Q

Which type of electromagnetic wave is used when a traffic signal communicates with a car driver?

A

Visible light

25
Q

Descirbe how radio waves are different from sound waves

A
  • Radio waves are transverse
  • Radio waves have a greater frequency
  • Radio waves travel at the speed of light
  • Radio waves can travel through a vacuum
26
Q

Give the equation that links frequency, speed and wavelength of a wave

A

speed = frequency x wavelength

27
Q

What is the unit for wavelength?

A

Metres

28
Q

1 Megahertz = ? Hertz

A

1 Megahertz = 1,000,000 Hertz

29
Q

What percentage of the energy that reaches Earth is reflected back into space?

A

29%

30
Q

In what position do particles end up after a transverse wave has passed?

A

Same position

31
Q

A student measures the distance from the peak of a water wave to the trough of a water wave. This distance is 0.80 m. State the amplitude of this water wave.

A

The amplitude will be half the distance from the peak to the trough. Therefore, the amplitude in this case would be 0.40 m.

32
Q

What does not change when a wave crosses a boundary between two substances?

A

Frequency

33
Q

4 things that happen to a wave at a boundary

A
  • absorb
  • reflect
  • transmit
  • refract
34
Q

Why does the frequency of the wave not change at a boundary?

A

The frequency of the wave does not change because the source is producing the same number of oscillations (vibrations) per second.

35
Q

What do we call sound waves that have been reflected of a wall?

A

Echo

36
Q

What property of a body of water can be found using ultrasound?

A

Depth

37
Q

What colour of visible light has the highest frequency?

A

Blue

38
Q

What colour of visible light has the largest wavelength?

A

red

39
Q

What properites of an image do concave lens always produce?

A
  • Upright
  • Diminished
  • Virtual
40
Q

Describe what happens in the electrical circuit when the car aerial absorbs radio waves

A

The radio waves are absorbed by a conductor, creating an alternating current. The information in the wave, is then decoded.

41
Q

What is the angle of refraction?

A

The angle of refraction is the angle between the refracted light ray and the normal.

42
Q

In the context of sound waves, what is a medium?

A

The substance that waves travel through

43
Q

Heat radiation is transmitted via which form of wave?

A

Infrared

44
Q

What distinguishes one colour from another?

A

The wavelength

45
Q

Why is human hearing limited?

A

Human hearing is limited by the size and shape of our ear drums, as well as the structure of all the parts within the ear that vibrate.

46
Q

What is meant by the wave period?

A

The wave period is the measure of time it takes for the wave cycle to complete

Pro Physics (14 decks)

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