SP5 - Light And The Electromagnetic Spectrum ✓ Flashcards Preview
SP5a - What two processes can be shown using a ray diagram?
Reflection
Refraction
SP5a - What do i and r represent in ray diagrams?
i: Angle of incidence (between incident ray and the normal)
r: Angle of reflection/refraction (between reflected/refracted ray and the normal)
SP5a - What is the relation between the angles of incidence and reflection/refraction?
i = r (Angle of incidence = angle of reflection/refraction)
This is the law of reflection
SP5a - What is the normal?
The line drawn perpendicular to the object light is reflecting off (or refracting through)
SP5a - Describe total internal reflection.
TIR occurs when light refracts through a substance at sucha low angle of incidence that it doesn’t leave the other side
This angle is called the critical
If light enters at the critical, it will move along the interface
If light enters at an angle smaller than the critical, it will cause TIR to happen
SP5a CP - Describe a method to explore refraction with varying angles of incidence.
Place a ray box with a slit in front of it on a piece of paper
Place a glass box the way of the ray of light thta is being produced
Draw around the glass block
Mark the point of entry and exit for the light aswell as two further points (such as origin and edge of paper) on the piece of paper
Use your markings to draw lines representing the travel of the ray of light
Repeat with ray box at different angles and compare your results
SP5b - What are the two types of reflection?
Specular: When light is reflected evenly on a smooth surface
Diffuse: When light is reflected in all directions on a rough surface
SP5b - Describe why a green object appears green in sunlight.
Sunlight is made up of white light as it contains all the colours of the visible spectrum
An object that appears green will reflect the green part of the spectrum but reflect all the other colours
SP5b - what effect would a blue filter have?
A blue filter would only transmit the blue part of the light that goes to it.
SP5d - What are the similarities between all EM waves?
They are all transverse waves
They all travel at (3x10^8m/s) ina vacuum
They transfer energy
SP5d - How were infrared waves discovered?
A prism was used to refract white light into the seven componenets.
A thermometer was placed just outside of the red part of this spectrum.
Another was placed in the spectrum.
The thermometer next to red was warmer suggesting there was something warming it up
SP5e - List all the colours in the visible light spectrum.
ROYGBIV
Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Indigo
Violet
SP5e - List all of the EM waves in order of increasing wavelength/decreasing frequency.
Gamma rays
X-rays
Ultraviolet
Visible light
Infrared
Microwaves
Radio waves
SP5e - Why do different telescopes need to be used to study different EM waves?
EM waves of different length get absorbed by different amounts by the atmosphere
SP5f - What can infrared be used for?
Heating food
Short range communication such as TV remotes
Security systems
SP5f - What can microwaves be used for?
Communications and satellite transmissions
Heating up food and giving it energy
SP5f - What can radio waves be used for?
Transmitting radio broadcasts
Radio communications via satellites
SP5f - How are radio waves produced?
Oscillations in electrical signals.
Metal rods can be used as aerials because they can absorb and transmit these oscillations
SP5f - Whay can radio waves be used for longer ranges than microwaves?
The way radio waves and microwaves travel is dependant on the angles they reach the ionosphere.
At all angles, microwaves pass straight through and so there is maximum range they can be fired in a straight line.
At some angles, radio waves are reflected by the ionosphere, becasue they have larger wavelengths.
This means they don’t have to be fired directly to a point
SP5h - What are the uses of Ultraviolet rays?
Disinfect waters by killing microorganisms
Invisible ink due to fluoresence
Security on bank notes
SP5h - What are the uses of x-rays?
Imaging of the inside of the body
SP5h - What are the uses of gamma radiation?
Radiotherapy
Sterilisation of medical equipment and food
PET scanner
SP5i - What are the dangers of infrared radiation?
Infrared radiation is absorbed by our body.
We feel it as heat and an excess of it can destroy cells burning skin
SP5i - What are the dangers of ultraviolet light?
It can cause sunburn and damage to DNA which can lead to skin cancer