Physics

Question 1

What is a wave?

Answer 1

Oscillations that transfer energy without the transfer of matter

Question 2

Define oscillation

Answer 2

Movement about a central point

Question 3

Label arrow 1

Answer 3

Wavelength

Question 4

Label arrow 2

Answer 4

Amplitude

Question 5

Define wavelength

Answer 5

Distance between two consecutive points on a wave OR the length of a complete oscillation

Question 6

Define displacement

Answer 6

Distance of a point on a wave from the equilibrium position

Question 7

Define amplitude

Answer 7

Maximum displacement from the wave to the equilibrium point (central line)

Question 8

Define time period and give its unit

Answer 8

The time for one complete oscilliation (wave)

Unit: second

Question 9

Define frequency and give its unit

Answer 9

Number of complete waves per second

Unit is hertz (Hz)

Question 10

What is the formula that relates time period and frequency

Answer 10

T = 1 / f

Question 11

What do the symbols mean in the following equation:

Answer 11

v = wave speed

lambda = wavelength

f = frequency

Question 12

Describe how the displacement of a point on a wave will change with time

Answer 12

It will go up and down as if it is oscillating about a point

Question 13

Name the two types of wavefront

Answer 13

Longitudinal and transverse

Question 14

Describe what a transverse wave is and give an example

Answer 14

The wave oscillates perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer. E.g. light waves (Electromagnetic spectrum)

Question 15

Describe what a longitudinal wave is and give an example

Answer 15

The wave oscillates parallel to the direction of energy transfer e.g. sound

Question 16

Describe how sound waves are transferred

Answer 16

They are transferred via particle vibrations

Question 17

Compare sound and light

Answer 17

Sound has a lower wave speed (330m/s) compared to light (3x108m/s)

Sound needs particles to travel and cannot travel through a vacuum

Both are waves

Sound tends to be lower frequency and longer wavelengths

Sound is longitudinal and light is transverse

Question 18

Name the 7 parts of the EM spectrum

Answer 18

Radio Micro IR Visible UV X-Ray Gamma

Question 19

Convert nm into m

Answer 19

1nm = 1x10^-9m

Question 20

Convert MHz into Hz

Answer 20

1MHz = 1x10⁶Hz

Question 21

State what the inverse square law is

Answer 21

As the distance from the light source increases the intensity of light will decrease by square

Question 22

What is refraction?

Answer 22

The apparent changing of direction of light when it hits a boundary between two media (e.g. glass and iar)

Question 23

State the meanings of the terms in the equation

Answer 23

n = the refractive index of the material

c = the speed of light in air (vacuum)

v = the speed of light in the material