Topic 4 & 5 Waves, light and the EM Spectrum Flashcards
1 Name three different types of wave.
any three from: light, sound, waves on water, seismic waves
2 What property of a wave does the wavelength describe?
the distance from one wave to the same place on the next wave
3 What are the units for wavelength?
metres
4 What property of a wave does the frequency describe?
the number of waves per second
5 What are the units for frequency?
hertz
6 What is transferred by a wave?
energy
7 What does amplitude mean?
the height of a wave, more correctly, the maximum displacement of a particle from its rest position
8 In which direction do the particles in a sound wave move compared to the direction the wave is travelling?
backwards and forwards in the same direction as the wave
9 What word is used to describe waves like sound waves?
longitudinal
10 What word is used to describe waves like the waves on water?
transverse
11 Name a type of transverse wave.
waves on water, some seismic waves, light waves
12 Name a type of longitudinal wave.
sound, some seismic waves
13 What is the difference between longitudinal and transverse waves?
the direction the particles move compared to the direction the wave is travelling
14 What word describes the number of waves per second?
frequency
15 What word describes the time taken for one wave to pass?
period
16 What word describes the distance between a point on one wave and the same point on the next wave?
wavelength
17 What are the units for frequency?
hertz
18 Name two things that waves can transfer.
energy and information
19 Name one thing that waves do not transfer.
matter
20 What is the equation that links wave speed, frequency and wavelength?
wave speed=frequency x wavelength
21 What two things do you need to measure to find the speed of a wave?
either the time to cover a certain distance, or the wavelength and the frequency
22 Describe the path of light when you watch TV.
TV to eye
23 Describe the path of light when you sit underneath a lamp and read a book.
lamp to book to eye
24 What is the word that describes light bouncing off a material?
reflection
25 What does refraction mean?
changing the direction of a wave
26 When does refraction happen to light waves?
when light goes into or out of a material
27 Name three materials that light can travel through.
any three transparent materials, such as air, glass, water, Perspex
28 Why is it difficult to see the exact positions of objects on the bottom of a swimming pool?
light is refracted as it leaves the water
29 What does the frequency of a wave describe?
number of waves per second
30 What are the units for frequency?
hertz