Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

GCSE Physics > Topic 5 - Light And Electromagnetic Spectrum > Flashcards

Topic 5 - Light And Electromagnetic Spectrum Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
GCSE Geography - AQA flashcards Physics 101 flashcards GCSE Religious Studies - Edexcel Route B flashcards GCSE Religious Studies - Eduqas Route A flashcards GCSE Religious Studies - Edexcel Route A flashcards GCSE Religious Studies - Eduqas Route B flashcards AP® Physics flashcards
1
Q

What is total internal reflection?

A

When light is completely reflected back at a boundary between 2 mediums

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

When does total internal reflection happen?

A

When light meets less dense medium at angle of incidence larger than critical angle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the critical angle?

A

Angle of incidence which causes angle of reflection to be 90°

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What determines the colour of visible light waves?

A

Wavelength and frequency of light waves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What colour of visible light has the highest frequency?

A

Blue

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What colour of visible light has the largest wavelength?

A

Red

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is meant by the term ‘specular reflection’

A

Rays are reflected from a smooth surface in a single direction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is meant by the term ‘diffuse reflection’

A

Reflection from a rough surface which causes scattering

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How does a red colour filter work?

A

It absorbs all wavelengths of light other than those in the red range of the spectrum
(Only red light passes through it)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is meant by the term ‘opaque’

A

Not see through

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What governs the colour of an opaque object?

A

Different objects reflect different wavelengths of light by different amounts.
Wavelengths most strongly reflected determine the colour.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What happens to the wavelengths of light that aren’t reflected by an opaque object?

A

Absorbed by object

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What colour does an object appear if all wavelengths are reflected by equal amounts?

A

White

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What colour does an object appear if all wavelengths are absorbed?

A

Black

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What type of waves are electromagnetic waves?

A

Transverse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What do electromagnetic waves transfer?

A

Energy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What type of spectrum do electromagnetic waves form?

A

Continuous spectrum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Lost the order of the magnetic spectrum (decreasing wavelength)

A

Radio, Microwaves, Infrared, Visible, UV, X Ray, Gamma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is the highest frequency electromagnetic wave?

A

Gamma waves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is the highest energy electromagnetic wave?

A

Gamma waves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What properties are shared by all electromagnetic waves?

A

All transverse
All travel at 3x10^8 m/s
Can travel through vacuum

22
Q

What is a convex lens?

A

Thicker in middle than top

23
Q

What do light rays do in a convex lens?

A

Converge towards focal point/principal focus

24
Q

Distance from lens to principal focus = ?

A

Focal length

25
Q

What is a concave lens?

A

Thinner in middle than top

26
Q

What do light rays do in a concave lens?

A

Diverge

27
Q

What can an image formed by a lens be?

A
  • upright or inverted
  • magnified or diminished
  • real or virtual
28
Q

What does a shorter focal length mean?

A

More powerful lens

29
Q

What is the power of the lens defined as?

A

Reciprocal of the focal length

30
Q

Equation for power of a lens

A

P (D) = 1/focal length

31
Q

What type of focal lengths and power values do the lenses have?

A 
Convex = positive 
Concave = negative
32
Q

When is an image real?

A

When the rays intersect

33
Q

When is an image virtual?

A

When the rays meet if they were produced backwards

34
Q

What is the image when an object is placed more than 2x the focal length from lens? (Convex)

A

Inverted
Diminished
Real

35
Q

What is the image when an object is placed between 1 and 2 focal lengths from the lens? (Convex)

A

Inverted
Magnified
Real

36
Q

What is the image when the object is placed at a distance less than the focal length (convex)?

A

Upright
Magnified
Virtual

37
Q

What toe of waves can be produced by oscillations in an electrical circuit?

A

Radio waves

38
Q

How can radio waves create an alternating current in a circuit?

A

When absorbed, they can induce oscillations in a circuit with the same frequency as the waves themselves

39
Q

Where do gamma rays originate from?

A

Originate from changes in the nuclei of atoms

40
Q

What health effects can ultraviolet waves cause?

A

Skin to age prematurely

Increased risk of developing skin cancer

41
Q

What health effects can X rays and gamma rays cause?

A

Ionising radiation can cause mutations in genes

Can lead to increased risk of developing various cancers

42
Q

What health effects can infrared rays cause?

A

Infrared waves can cause burns to skin/tissue

43
Q

How does electromagnetic radiation affect electron arrangement in atoms?

A

Absorption or emission of electromagnetic radiation can cause electron arrangement to change.

44
Q

What are the effects of body cells absorbing radiation?

A

Large amounts can damage cells

Smaller amounts cause mutations causing cells to divide rapidly - lead to cancer

45
Q

State and explain use of radio waves

A

Communications - long wavelength so can travel far

46
Q

State and explain a use of microwaves

A

Cooking - microwaves are absorbed by and heat fat/water in foods

47
Q

State and explain uses of infrared radiation

A

Cooking food
Infrared cameras
Short range communication

48
Q

State and explain uses of visible light

A

Illuminating + fibre optics (reflect best in glass)

49
Q

State and explain uses of UV radiation

A

Sterilisation - kills bacteria
Energy efficient lamps - radiates low heat but high energy
Sun tanning

50
Q

State and explain uses of X rays

A

Medical imaging + treatment

High energy and can easily penetrate body tissues

51
Q

State and explain uses of gamma rays

A

Medical treatments - radiotherapy

52
Q

Which waves of EM spectrum are regarded as most dangerous?

A

Gamma and X rays - highest energy

GCSE Physics (6 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions