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Physics > Topic 6 - Waves > Flashcards

Topic 6 - Waves Flashcards

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1
Q

What happens when waves travel through a medium?

A

The particles oscillate and transfer energy

Particles stay in the same place

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2
Q

What is frequency and what is it measured in

A

Amount of complete waves

Hz / hertz

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3
Q

Describe the oscillation of transverse waves

A

Oscillations are perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer

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4
Q

What type of wave are electromagnetic waves

A

Transverse

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5
Q

Describe the oscillation of longitudinal waves

A

Oscillations are parallel to the direction of energy transfer

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6
Q

Formula for wave speed

A

Wave speed = frequency x wave length

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7
Q

When waves arrive at a boundary between 2 different materials what 3 things can happen

A

Reflected - bounce off
Absorbed - transfers energy to the materials energy store
Transmitted - travel through often refracted

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8
Q

Angle of incidence =

A

Angle of incidence = Angle of reflection

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9
Q

Angle of incidence is

A

The angle between the normal and incoming wave

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10
Q

Angle of reflection is

A

The angle between the normal and reflected wave

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11
Q

The normal line is

A

An imaginary line thats perpendicular to where the wave hits the boundary

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12
Q

Describe the 2 types of reflection

A

Specular reflection - Waves reflected is in the same direction and occurs on a smooth surface
Diffuse reflection - Waves reflected are scattered in different direction occurs on a rough surface

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13
Q

Why are diffuse reflections reflected in different directions

A

The normal is different for each incoming ray so the angle of incidence is different so the angle of reflection will also be different

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14
Q

What happens when light is reflected off of a rough surface

A

Surface appears matte

Don’t get a clear reflection

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15
Q

All EM waves travel at the same speed in

A

air or a vacuum

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16
Q

List the EM waves in increasing frequency and decreasing wavelength

A

radiowaves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x-ray, gamma rays

17
Q

Describe refraction

A

When a wave passes into a different material the angle may change

18
Q

If a wave crosses a boundary into a more dense material what happens

A

Slow down and travel towards the normal

19
Q

If a wave crosses a boundary into a less dense material what happens

A

Speed up and travel away from the normal

20
Q

Optical density is a measure of

A

How quickly light can travel through it

higher density travel slower

21
Q

Which wave is used mainly for communication

A 
Radio waves - long wavelengths
Can diffract (bend) around the Earth and obstructions
Reflected from the ionosphere (electrically charge layer in the atmosphere)
22
Q

Which waves are used by satellites

A

Microwaves - pass easily through Earth’s atmosphere

23
Q

Which wave is used in microwaves

A

Microwaves
absorbed by water molecules in the food
Before this they travel into the food and transfer energy -causes water to heat up
Water molecules transfer this energy to the rest of the food by heating

24
Q

Which wave is used to increase/monitor temperature

A

Infrared

25
Q

Earthquakes produce

How are these detected

A

Seismic waves

seismometers

26
Q

What happens when seismic waves reach a boundary

A

Refracted - change speed gradually and results in a curve

reflected

27
Q

Name the 2 types of seismic waves

A

P waves

S waves

28
Q

How do we have an understanding of the Earth’s internal structure

A

Observe how seismic waves are absorbed/refracted shows the properties of where Earth change

29
Q

Properties of P waves

A

Longitudinal
Travel through solids and liquids
Quicker than S waves

30
Q

Properties of S waves

A

Transverse
Can’t travel through liquids
Slower than P waves

Physics (6 decks)

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