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Physics A Level -kyran > Physics Section 3-waves > Flashcards

Physics Section 3-waves Flashcards

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1
Q

what is a progressive wave

A

a wave that carries energy from one place to another without transferring material

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2
Q

what is reflection

A

when a wave bonces back when it hits a boundary

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3
Q

what is refraction

A

when a wave changes direction as it enters a different medium (due to a wave slowing down or speeding up)

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4
Q

what is diffraction

A

the wave spreads out as it passes through a gap or around an obstacle

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5
Q

What is displacement and what is it measured in

A

how far a point on the wave has moved from its undisturbed position (metres)

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6
Q

what is amplitude and what is it measured

A

the maximum magnitude of the displacement (metres)

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7
Q

what is wavelength and what is it measured in

A

the length of one whole wave oscillation ( lambda, metres)

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8
Q

what is period and what is it measured in

A

the time taken for one whole wave cycle (seconds)

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9
Q

what is frequency and what is it measured in

A

the number of whole wave cycles in a second (hertz)

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10
Q

what is phase difference

A

the amount by which one wave lags behind another

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11
Q

what are the two equations to find wave speed

A

c = d / t
c = f x lambda

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12
Q

what is one way to measure the speed of sound

A

by using two microphones in a straight line. then use a signal generator and a computer to record the time between picking up sound between the two different signals.
then use speed = distance / time to calculate the speed of the sound waves

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13
Q

how can you measure wave speed in water

A

record the depth of water in a tank using a ruler
make vibrations and turn up a strobe light above the ripple tank
increase frequency until the waves seem to be standing still
use a ruler on the white paper below the and measure two adjacent peaks
repeat at different depths

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14
Q

what is a transverse wave

A

the displacement of particles is at a right angle of energy propagation

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15
Q

what is a longitudinal wave

A

the displacement of the particles is along the direction of energy propagation

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16
Q

what is a polarised wave

A

a wave that only oscillates in one direction only

17
Q

what are two ways polarisation is used in real life circumstances

A

glare reduction
improving tv signals and radio signals

18
Q

what is superposition

A

when two or more waves cross, and the displacements of both the waves combine

18
Q

what is constructive interference

A

when the displacements are in the same direction and combine to give a bigger displacement.

19
Q

what is destructive interference

A

when a positive and negative displacement combine and cancel each other out

19
Q

what is total destructive interference

A

when two waves with equal and opposite displacements meet and cancel each other out

19
Q

how long is a cycle of a wave (degrees and radians)

A

360 degrees
2π radians

19
Q

what is a stationary wave

A

the superposition of two progressive waves with the same frequency and amplitude moving in opposite directions

19
Q

what happens at a node

A

total destructive interference

19
Q

what happens at an antinode

A

constructive interference

20
Q

what is the first harmonic

A

it has one loop with a node at each end so one half wavelength fits on the string

21
Q

what is the second harmonic

A

a node in the middle and one either end and one wavelength fits on the string

22
Q

what is the third harmonic

A

1 and a half wavelength with 4 nodes

23
Q

when is diffraction at the maximum

A

when the wavelength is the same as the size of the gap

24
Q

what does monochromatic mean

A

a light source with one wavelength (frequency)

25
Q

why is there alternating dark and bright fringes on a screen when light is diffracted

A

due to constructive and destructive interference

26
Q

what happens when white light is shone through a slit where diffraction occurs

A

all the different wavelengths are diffracted at by different amounts and on the smaller fringes a full spectra of colours can be seen

27
Q
A

Physics A Level -kyran (3 decks)

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