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Physics GCSE > Topic 4 - Waves > Flashcards

Topic 4 - Waves Flashcards

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1
Q

transverse waves

A

the mediums particles vibrate energy in a right angle to the direction of motion

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2
Q

longitudinal wave

A

the mediums particles vibrate energy in the same direction of the motion

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3
Q

mechanical waves

A

transfer of energy through a medium

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4
Q

electromagnetic waves - type of wave

A

transverse waves that do not need a medium through which to travel

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5
Q

wave frequency (Hz)

A

the number of waves passing a point each second

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6
Q

period

A

the length of time it takes one wave to pass a given point

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7
Q

wavelength of a wave (m)

A

the distance from a point on one wave to point in the same position on the next wave

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8
Q

amplitude of a wave (m)

A

from the middle of the wave to the top or bottom

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9
Q

velocity of a wave

A

the speed of the wave in the direction it is travelling

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10
Q

velocity of a wave equation

A

velocity = frequency x wavelength

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11
Q

wavespeed equation

A

wave speed = frequency x wavelength
(m/s) (Hz) (m)

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12
Q

what can change the speed of a wave

A

the medium through which is it travelling

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13
Q

refraction

A

when a wave travel from one medium through to another medium at an angle causing it to bend; this is caused by the wave changing speed as it passes through different mediums

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14
Q

what’s happening to the speed of a wave if it bends towards the normal line

A

it’s slowing down

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15
Q

what’s happening to the speed of a wave if it bends away from the normal line

A

it speeds up

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16
Q

what controls how much light is bent

A

the greater the difference in speed between the two media’s
—> great difference = more light bent

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17
Q

the normal line

A

the line that’s at a right angle to the interface

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18
Q

the interface

A

the boundary between two media

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19
Q

wave can be reflected

A

wave ‘bounces’ off the boundary

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20
Q

waves can be refracted

A

the wave passes into the new material, but changes the direction in which is travelling (wave bends at the boundary)

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21
Q

waves can be transmitted

A

the wave passes through the material and is not absorb or reflected

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22
Q

waves can be absorbed

A

the wave disappears as the energy is carrying is transferred to the material (the wave is dispersed at the boundary)

23
Q

white light

A

made up of a mixture of different frequencies - we see these different frequencies as different colours

24
Q

why do we hear different pitches of sounds

A

because of different frequencies of sound

25
Q

what changes when a sound enters a different material

A

the wavelength and the velocity, NOT the frequency

26
Q

what type of waves are sound waves

A

longitudinal

27
Q

process to hear sound

A

1) sound waves enter the air canal
2) the eardrum is a thin membrane; sound waves make it vibrate
3) vibrations are passed on to tiny bones which amplify the vibrations (make them bigger)
4) vibrations are passed onto the liquid inside the cochlea
5) tiny inside the cochlea detect these vibrations and create electrical signals called impulses
6) impulses travel along neurons in the auditory nerve to the brain

28
Q

when a wave hits a boundary, what can it do

A
  • be reflected
  • be refracted
  • be transmitted
  • be absorbed
29
Q

ultrasound

A

waves with frequencies too high to be heard by humans (above 20kHz)

30
Q

how can ultrasounds be used

A
  • animals to communicate or navigate
  • sonar equipment to find the depth of the sea or detect fish
  • ultrasound scan to make images inside the body
31
Q

how does an ultrasound scan work

A

The ultrasound machine detect the time between sending the pulse out and receiving the echo

32
Q

infrasound

A

waves with frequencies too low to be heard by humans (below 20kHz)

33
Q

seismic waves

A

infrasound waves that are produced by earthquakes

34
Q

how are seismic waves detected

A

seismometer

35
Q

what types of seismic waves are there

A

longitudinal P waves or transverse S waves

36
Q

what type of waves are P waves

A

longitudinal

37
Q

what type of waves are S waves

A

transverse

38
Q

what type of states of matter can longitudinal waves transmit through

A

solids, liquids, gases

39
Q

what type of states of matter can transverse waves transmit through

A

only solids

40
Q

S wave shadow zone

A

the zone of the Earth on the opposite side to the earthquake

41
Q

why does the S wave shadow zone occur

A

because part of the earths interior is liquid so the waves can’t pass through it so underneath this liquid core, it’s a shadow zone

42
Q

for light what does the frequency determine?

A

colour
- higher frequencies means blue colours
- lower frequencies means red colours

43
Q

The sound what does frequency determine?

A

pitch
- a high frequency results in a high pitch
- a low frequency results in a low pitch

44
Q

What happens with the light when amplitude changes

A
  • Higher amplitude results and brightness of light
  • Low amplitude results in a decrease of light
45
Q

how do we work out the speed of waves on water?

A

Measure the time it takes for a wave to travel between two fixed points

46
Q

How do you work up the speed of sound?

A

Measure the time it takes for a sound to travel a certain distance, for example, measure the time it takes for an echo of a loud sound to reach you

47
Q

what happens when waves on the surface of water when they cross an interface from shallow water into deep water?

A
  • They speed up
48
Q

what happens when waves on the surface of water when they cross an interface from deep water into water water?

A
  • they slow down
49
Q

what happens when waves on the surface of water when they cross an interface from deep water into water water?

A
  • they slow down
50
Q

explain the process of how the internal structure of a human air lets the brain hear sound

A
  1. Sound waves enter the ear canal.
  2. The eardrum is a thin membrane sound waves make it vibrate.
  3. Vibrations apart from a tiny bones which amplify the vibrations (make them bigger)
  4. Vibrations are passed onto the liquid inside the cochlear.
  5. Tiny hairs inside the cochlear detect these vibrations and create electrical signals called impulses.
  6. Impulses travel along neurons in the auditory nerve to reach the brain.
51
Q

what part of the cochlear detects high frequencies?

A

base

52
Q

Which part of the cochlea detects low frequencies?

A

apex

53
Q

Function of the hair cells in a cochlear

A

Detects vibrations - each cell is connected to a neurone that sends impulses to the brain

54
Q

function of the fluid inside a cochlea

A

fluid transmit sound waves

Physics GCSE (9 decks)

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