P6 Waves Flashcards

1
Q

What are the two types of waves?

A

Transverse waves: Oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer.

Longitudinal waves: Oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer.

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2
Q

What are examples of transverse and longitudinal waves?

A

Transverse waves: Ripples on a water surface, electromagnetic waves.

Longitudinal waves: Sound waves in air, seismic P-waves.

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3
Q

What are the features of longitudinal waves?

A

Compression: Particles are close together.

Rarefaction: Particles are spread out.

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4
Q

What are the key properties of a wave?

A

Amplitude: Maximum displacement from the rest position.

Wavelength: Distance between the same point on two consecutive waves.

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5
Q

What are frequency and period of a wave?

A

Frequency: Number of waves passing a point per second (measured in Hertz, Hz).

Period: Time taken for one complete wave to pass a point.

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6
Q

What is wave speed and how is it calculated?

A

Wave Speed: How fast a wave moves through a medium.

Equation: Wave speed = Frequency × Wavelength.

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6
Q

What are the highest and lowest points of a transverse wave?

A

Crest: The highest point of a transverse wave.

Trough: The lowest point of a transverse wave.

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7
Q

How can we measure the speed of sound in air? (Required Practical)

A

Use two microphones a known distance apart.

Clap or produce a sound and record the time taken for the wave to travel between microphones.

Use wave speed = distance / time to calculate speed.

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8
Q

How can we measure the speed of ripples in water? (Required Practical)

A

Use a ripple tank.

Measure the wavelength with a ruler.

Find frequency using a timer and count waves per second.

Multiply wavelength by frequency to get speed.

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9
Q

What is the law of reflection?

A

Law of Reflection: Angle of incidence = Angle of reflection.

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10
Q

What is refraction and how does it affect waves?

A

Refraction: Waves change direction when entering a different medium due to a change in speed.

Denser medium: Slows down and bends towards the normal.

Less dense medium: Speeds up and bends away from the normal.

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11
Q

What is diffraction?

A

The spreading out of waves when passing through a gap or around an obstacle.
Greater diffraction occurs when the gap is similar in size to the wavelength.

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12
Q

How do we know that waves transfer energy?

A

Water waves make objects bob up and down without moving them forward.

Sound waves make objects vibrate (e.g., speaker cones).

Electromagnetic waves transfer energy to materials (e.g., heating food in a microwave).

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13
Q

What is the order of the electromagnetic spectrum?

A

From longest to shortest wavelength:Radio → Microwave → Infrared → Visible Light → Ultraviolet → X-rays → Gamma rays

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13
Q

What is the electromagnetic spectrum?

A

A continuous range of transverse waves that transfer energy.

All travel at the same speed in a vacuum.

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14
Q

What are the uses of electromagnetic waves? ( radio waves, microwaves and infrared)

A

Radio waves: TV and radio communication.

Microwaves: Satellite communication, cooking food.

Infrared: Heaters, cooking, night vision cameras.

15
Q

What are the uses of electromagnetic waves? ( visible light, ultraviolet, x rays, gamma rays)

A

Visible Light: Fibre optic communication.

Ultraviolet: Fluorescent lamps, sun tanning.

X-rays: Medical imaging.

Gamma rays: Cancer treatment, sterilisation.

16
Q

How do electromagnetic waves interact with materials? Through absorbtion and transmission

A

Absorption: Energy is taken in by the material (e.g., infrared on black surfaces).

Transmission: Waves pass through the material (e.g., glass letting visible light through).

Reflection: Waves bounce off a surface (e.g., mirrors reflecting light).

Refraction: Waves change speed and direction when moving between materials.

17
Q

How do electromagnetic waves interact with materials? Through reflection and refraction

A

Reflection: Waves bounce off a surface (e.g., mirrors reflecting light).

Refraction: Waves change speed and direction when moving between materials.

18
Q

What is ionising radiation?

A

Ionising Radiation: Can remove electrons from atoms, leading to cell damage.

Includes X-rays and gamma rays.

Can cause mutations, cancer, and tissue damage.

19
Q

What is non-ionising radiation?

A

Non-Ionising Radiation: Does not remove electrons.

Includes radio, microwave, infrared, visible light, and ultraviolet.

20
Q

What are the dangers of electromagnetic waves?

A

Ultraviolet radiation: Causes premature skin aging, skin cancer.

X-rays and gamma rays: Cause mutations, cancer risk.

21
Q

What safety precautions can be taken against electromagnetic waves?

A

Lead shielding for X-rays.

Sunscreen for UV protection.

Limiting exposure to radiation sources.

22
Q

How can we investigate infrared radiation? (Required Practical)

A

Investigate how different surfaces absorb and emit infrared radiation.

Use a Leslie cube with different surfaces (shiny, matte, black, white).

Measure temperature changes using an infrared detector.

23
Q

What are the findings from an infrared radiation experiment?

A

Black, matte surfaces absorb and emit more infrared.

Shiny, white surfaces reflect more infrared and emit less.