Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Physics Paper 2 > Topic 6 Waves > Flashcards

Topic 6 Waves Flashcards

1
Q

Describe the oscillations (vibrations) of transverse waves?

A

Oscillations perpendicular to direction of energy transfer

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

What are 3 examples of transverse waves?

A

All EM waves
Ripples/waves in water
Wave on string

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

Describe the oscillations in longitudinal waves?

A

Oscillations parallel to direction of energy transfer

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

What are 2 examples of longitudinal waves?

A

Sound waves in air
Shock waves

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

What is longitudinal waves show areas of?

A

Compressions and rarefactions

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

What is the equation to calculate wave speed?

A

Wave speed = frequency x wavelength

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

What is the period of a wave?

A

Amount time it takes for full cycle of wave

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

What is the wave speed?

A

Speed at which energy is transferred (wave moves) through medium

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

What is the equation to calculate the period of a wave?

A

Period = 1/frequency

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

What happens when waves travel through a medium (3 things)?

A

Particles of medium oscillate, transfer energy between each other, particles stay in same place- only energy transferred

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

What is the evidence that shows that for ripples on water surface, it is the wave and not the water itself that travels?

A

Drop twig into calm pool of water, ripples form, ripples don’t carry water or twig away with them

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

What is evidence that for sound waves, it is the the wave and not the air itself that travels?

A

Strum guitar strings, create sound waves, sound waves don’t carry air away from guitar and create vacuum

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

What is the amplitude of a wave?

A

Maximum displacement of a point on wave away from its undisturbed position

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

What is the wavelength of a wave?

A

Distant from point on one wave to equivalent point on adjacent wave

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

What is the frequency of a wave?

A

Number of waves passing a point each second

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

What 4 pieces of equipment do you need to measure the speed of sound waves in air?

A

Signal generator attached to speaker
Two microphones
Oscilloscope

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

What are the 4 steps in the method to measure the speed of sound waves in air?

A
  1. set up oscilloscope so detected waves at each microphone shown as separate waves
  2. Move microphones until 2 waves aligned on display, one wavelength apart
  3. Measure distance between microphones = one wavelength
  4. Calculate speed of sound waves
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What equipment do you use to measure the speed of ripples on a water surface?

A

Signal generator attached to dipper of ripple tank

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

What are the 3 steps in the method to measure the speed of water ripples?

A
  1. Use lamp to see wave crests on screen below ripple tank
  2. Measure distance between shadow lines 10 wavelengths apart, divide distance by 10 = average wavelength
  3. Calculate wave speed
20
Q

What 3 things can happen when waves arrive at a boundary between 2 different materials?

A
  1. Waves absorbed by material, transfers energy to materials energy stores
  2. Waves transmitted- carry on travelling through new material, leads to refraction
  3. Waves reflected
21
Q

What is the rule for reflection?

A

Angle of incidence = angle of reflection

22
Q

What can you draw to illustrate the reflection of a wave at a surface?

A

Ray diagram

23
Q

What are the 2 types of reflection?

A

Specular
Diffuse

24
Q

What is specular reflection?

A

Wave reflected in single direction by smooth surface

25
What is **diffuse reflection**?
Wave reflected by **rough surface**, reflected rays **scattered in lots of different directions**
26
What are **EM waves**?
**Transverse waves** that **transfer energy** from **source to absorber**
27
What do **electromagnetic waves form**?
**Continuous spectrum over range of frequencies**
28
How do **all types of EM waves travel**?
**Same velocity** through **air** or **vacuum** (space)
29
How are the **waves that form the electromagnetic spectrum grouped**?
**Increasing frequency and decreasing wavelength**
30
What is the **order of the seven types of em waves in the em spectrum**?
Radio waves Microwaves Infrared Visible light Ultra violet X rays Gamma rays
31
Why is there a **large range of frequencies between EM waves**?
**Generated by variety of changes in atoms and their nuclei**
32
What is **refraction**?
When **wave crosses boundary between materials at angle and changes direction**
33
What does **how much a wave is refracted depend on**?
**Velocity (how much speeds up or slows down)**
34
What happens when a **wave crosses the boundary into a denser material**?
**Slows down, bends towards normal**
35
What happens when a **wave crosses the boundary into a less dense material**?
**Speeds up, bends away from normal**
36
What happens to **wavelength and frequency of a wave** when it’s **refracted**?
**Wavelength changes, frequency same**
37
What are **2 things are microwaves used for**?
**Satellite communications** **Cooking food**
38
How do **lenses form an image**?
**Refract light (change its direction)**
39
What does a **convex lens look like**?
**Bulges outwards**
40
What is the **distance** from the **centre of the lens** to the **principal focus called**?
**Focal length**
41
What does a **convex lens cause light to do**?
**Rays of light parallel to axis brought together (converge) at principal focus**
42
What does a **concave lens look like**?
**Caves inwards**
43
What does a **concave lens cause light to do**?
**Parallel rays of light spread out (diverge)**
44
What is the **axis of a lens**?
**Line passing through middle of lens**
45
What is a **saying to remember the order of EM waves**?
**Raw Meat Is Very Unsanitary eXcept Giraffe**
46
What **happens** when **electromagnetic waves are generated or absorbed**?
**Changes** take place in **atoms** or in **nuclei of atoms**

Physics Paper 2 (4 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions