Properties Of Waves Flashcards
What is a wave?
A wave is a disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another without transferring matter.
Example sentence: The ocean waves crashed against the shore.
What are the two main types of waves?
Transverse waves and longitudinal waves.
Additional information: These types differ based on the direction of particle movement.
How do particles move in a transverse wave?
In transverse waves, particles move perpendicular to the direction of the wave’s energy transfer.
Example sentence: Light waves are transverse waves.
How do particles move in a longitudinal wave?
In longitudinal waves, particles move parallel to the direction of the wave’s energy transfer.
Example sentence: Sound waves are longitudinal waves.
What is the wavelength of a wave?
The wavelength is the distance between two consecutive points in phase, such as two crests or two troughs in a transverse wave.
Additional information: Wavelength is often symbolized by the Greek letter lambda (λ).
What is the amplitude of a wave?
The amplitude is the maximum displacement of a particle from its equilibrium position.
Example sentence: The larger the amplitude of a wave, the louder the sound.
What is the frequency of a wave, and how is it measured?
Frequency is the number of wave cycles that pass a point per second, measured in Hertz (Hz).
Example sentence: A tuning fork vibrating at 440 Hz produces the musical note A.
What is the period of a wave?
The period is the time taken for one complete cycle of the wave to pass a given point, measured in seconds.
Additional information: Period and frequency are inversely related.
What is wave speed, and how can it be calculated?
Wave speed is the distance a wave travels per unit of time and can be calculated using the formula:
Wave speed (v) = frequency (f) × wavelength (λ)
Example calculation: If a wave has a frequency of 50 Hz and a wavelength of 2 meters, its speed would be 100 m/s.
What happens to the wavelength of a wave if its frequency increases while the speed remains constant?
The wavelength decreases because wavelength and frequency are inversely proportional.
Additional information: This relationship is described by the equation: v = fλ.
What is reflection of waves?
Reflection is when a wave bounces off a surface and changes direction but stays in the same medium.
Example scenario: Echoes are a result of sound wave reflection.
What is refraction of waves?
Refraction is the change in direction of a wave as it passes from one medium to another due to a change in speed.
Example application: Refraction of light through a prism creates a rainbow.
What is diffraction?
Diffraction is the spreading of waves when they pass through a gap or around an obstacle.
Example phenomenon: The bending of sound waves around a corner is an example of diffraction.
What is the Doppler Effect?
The Doppler Effect is the change in frequency or wavelength of a wave in relation to an observer moving relative to the source of the wave.
Example application: The change in pitch of a siren as a police car passes by is due to the Doppler Effect.
What type of wave is light?
Light is a transverse wave.
Example sentence: Sunlight is an example of a transverse wave.
What is the speed of light in a vacuum?
The speed of light in a vacuum is approximately 3 x 10^8 meters per second (m/s).
Example sentence: The speed of light is a constant value in a vacuum.
What is the law of reflection?
The law of reflection states that the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection, both measured from the normal.
Example sentence: When light reflects off a mirror, it follows the law of reflection.
What is refraction?
Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another due to a change in its speed.
Example sentence: Light bends when it passes from air to water due to refraction.
What is the normal line in reflection and refraction?
The normal line is an imaginary line perpendicular to the surface where the light ray strikes or passes through.
Example sentence: The normal line helps determine the angle of reflection in optics.
What is the critical angle in refraction?
The critical angle is the angle of incidence at which light is refracted along the boundary of two mediums, causing total internal reflection.
Example sentence: Diamonds exhibit total internal reflection due to their high critical angle.
What is total internal reflection?
Total internal reflection occurs when light traveling from a denser to a less dense medium hits the boundary at an angle greater than the critical angle, causing all the light to be reflected back into the denser medium.
Example sentence: Fiber optics use total internal reflection to transmit light signals efficiently.
What is dispersion of light?
Dispersion is the splitting of white light into its component colors when it passes through a prism.
Example sentence: Rainbows are formed due to the dispersion of sunlight by water droplets.
What causes different colors in white light?
Different colors in white light are caused by varying wavelengths; red has the longest wavelength, and violet has the shortest.
Example sentence: The color spectrum of light ranges from red to violet based on their wavelengths.
What is the visible spectrum?
The visible spectrum is the range of wavelengths of light visible to the human eye, typically from 400 nm (violet) to 700 nm (red).
Example sentence: Humans can perceive colors within the visible spectrum of light.
What is the relationship between the frequency and wavelength of light?
Frequency and wavelength are inversely proportional. As the frequency of light increases, the wavelength decreases.
Example sentence: Higher frequency light waves have shorter wavelengths.
What is a convex lens?
A convex lens is a lens that is thicker in the middle than at the edges and converges light rays to a focal point.
Example sentence: Magnifying glasses use convex lenses to focus light onto a small area.
What is a concave lens?
A concave lens is thinner in the middle than at the edges and diverges light rays away from a focal point.
Example sentence: Diverging lenses, like concave lenses, spread light rays apart.
What is the focal length of a lens?
The focal length is the distance between the center of the lens and the focal point where parallel rays of light converge or appear to diverge.
Example sentence: Cameras adjust their focus by changing the focal length of the lens.
What is a real image in terms of lenses?
A real image is an image formed by converging light rays and can be projected onto a screen. It is inverted.
Example sentence: Real images can be captured on a photographic film by focusing light through a lens.
What is a virtual image in terms of lenses?
A virtual image is formed when light rays appear to diverge from a point. It cannot be projected onto a screen and is upright.
Example sentence: Virtual images in mirrors appear behind the mirror surface.
What is the principle of superposition of light waves?
The principle of superposition states that when two or more light waves overlap, their displacements add up to form a resultant wave.
Example sentence: Interference patterns in light waves demonstrate the principle of superposition.
How does light behave when it passes through a narrow slit?
Light passing through a narrow slit undergoes diffraction, spreading out as it passes through.
Example sentence: Diffraction of light through a narrow slit creates a pattern of bright and dark bands.
What is polarization of light?
Polarization is the restriction of light vibrations to one direction or plane, typically occurring with transverse waves like light.
Example sentence: Polaroid sunglasses use polarization to reduce glare by blocking light waves vibrating in certain directions.
What is Snell’s Law?
Snell’s Law describes the relationship between the angles of incidence and refraction and is given by the formula: n₁sinθ₁ = n₂sinθ₂, where n₁ and n₂ are the refractive indices of the two media.
Example sentence: Snell’s Law explains how light bends when it moves from one medium to another.
What is the crest of a wave?
The crest is the highest point of a wave in a transverse wave.
Example: The top of a water wave.
What is the trough of a wave?
The trough is the lowest point of a wave in a transverse wave.
Example: The bottom of a water wave.
What is the crest of a wave?
The crest is the highest point of a wave in a transverse wave.
Example: The surfer rode the wave all the way to the crest.
What is the trough of a wave?
The trough is the lowest point of a wave in a transverse wave.
Example: The boat dipped into the trough of the wave.
What is compression in a longitudinal wave?
Compression is the region where particles are closest together in a longitudinal wave.
Example: Sound waves create compressions and rarefactions in the air.
What is rarefaction in a longitudinal wave?
Rarefaction is the region where particles are furthest apart in a longitudinal wave.
Example: The rarefaction of the wave caused a decrease in pressure.
What is wave interference?
Interference occurs when two or more waves overlap and combine to form a new wave pattern.
Example: The interference of the waves created a beautiful pattern in the water.
What is constructive interference?
Constructive interference occurs when waves meet and their amplitudes add together, creating a wave with a larger amplitude.
Example: Constructive interference reinforced the sound waves, making them louder.
What is destructive interference?
Destructive interference occurs when waves meet and their amplitudes cancel each other out, resulting in a wave with reduced or zero amplitude.
Example: Destructive interference caused the waves to cancel each other out, creating silence.
What is meant by the phase of a wave?
The phase of a wave refers to the position of a point on the wave cycle, measured in degrees or radians.
Example: The phase of the wave determines where it is in its cycle.
What is polarization of waves?
Polarization is the phenomenon where transverse waves oscillate in one plane only, reducing them to one direction of vibration.
Example: Polarization of light waves can be observed through polarized sunglasses.
What is the formula for wave frequency in terms of time period?
Frequency (f) = 1 / Period (T).
Example: Calculate the frequency of a wave with a period of 0.02 seconds.
How does the speed of sound differ in solids, liquids, and gases?
Sound travels fastest in solids, slower in liquids, and slowest in gases due to differences in particle density and stiffness.
Example: Sound travels faster through steel than through air.
What is the relationship between wave speed, frequency, and wavelength?
Wave speed (v) = frequency (f) × wavelength (λ).
Example: Calculate the speed of a wave with a frequency of 50 Hz and a wavelength of 2 meters.
What is a standing wave?
A standing wave is formed when two waves of the same frequency and amplitude traveling in opposite directions interfere, producing a pattern of nodes and antinodes.
Example: Musical instruments produce standing waves in their strings.
What is a node in a standing wave?
A node is a point in a standing wave where there is no displacement (the wave stays still).
Example: The nodes of the standing wave remained fixed in place.
What is an antinode in a standing wave?
An antinode is a point in a standing wave where the amplitude of the wave is maximum.
Example: The antinodes of the wave had the highest intensity.
What happens to the frequency of a wave as the source of the wave moves towards an observer?
The frequency appears to increase due to the Doppler Effect.
Example: The sound of the approaching car seemed higher in pitch due to the Doppler Effect.
