Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

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


See full index

S2 GCSE Physics Unit 2 > Unit 2 - Topic 1 - Waves, Sound and Light > Flashcards

Unit 2 - Topic 1 - Waves, Sound and Light 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 do waves transfer?

A

Waves transfer energy and information from one point to another through vibrations/oscillations.

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

Give some examples of longitudinal waves.

A

Sound
Ultrasound
Primary earthquake waves

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

Give some examples of transverse waves.

A

Water waves
Electromagnetic waves
Secondary earthquake waves

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

Wavelength definition

A

Wavelength, represented by the Greek letter (lambda), is the distance between successive crests.

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

Frequency definition

A

Frequency - f is the number of compete waves generated per second.

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

Speed definition

A

Speed - V of the wave is the distance moved by a crest or any point on he wave in 1 second.

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

Amplitude definition

A

Amplitude - a is the height of a crest/peak or the depth of a trough measured from the undisturbed position of what is carrying the wave.

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

What is the quantitative relationship between wave speed, wavelength and frequency?

A

V=fW

V = Speed
f = Frequency
W = Wavelength (lambda)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Form two equations equal to f, frequency.

A

V=fW —> f=V/W

f = 1/T

T = Time period, time between successive crests or troughs.

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

When a wave travels from a less-dense to a more-dense medium, it’s speed …

A

Decreases

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

When a wave travels from a more-dense to a less-dense medium, it’s speed …

A

Increases

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

Write down the echo principle formula.

A

S = 2nd/t

S = Speed of the waves
n = Number of claps
d = Distance to reflective surface
2d = Distance to reflective surface and back (round trip)
t = Time taken
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the different types of radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum?

A 
Real
Men
Inevitably
Visit
Ugly
Ex
Girlfriends
Radio wave
Microwave
Infrared
Visible light
Ultra-violet radiation
X-rays
Gamma rays
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the typical wavelength of gamma rays?

A

0.01nm

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

What is the typical wavelength of X-rays?

A

1nm

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

What is the typical wavelength of ultra-violet radiation?

A

0.1 micrometers - 0.4 micrometers

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

What is the typical wavelength of visible light?

A

0.4 micrometers - 0.7 micrometers

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

What is the typical wavelength of infrared radiation?

A

0.01mm

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

What is the typical wavelength of microwave radiation?

A

1cm - 1m

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

What is the typical wavelength of radio wave radiation?

A

1m - 1km

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

At what speed do all electromagnetic waves travel in a vacuum?

A

3x10*8 ms-1

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What produces sound?

A

Vibrations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Sound waves with frequencies above 20KHz are called …

A

Ultrasound/ultrasonic waves

24
Q

What are some applications of echoes?

A
  1. Ships use ultrasonic waves to measure the depth of the sea and to detect shoals of fish.
  2. In industry ultrasonic waves are used to reveal flaws in welded joints.
  3. Reverberation is desirable in a concert hall to stop it sounding ‘dead’, but too much causes ‘confusion’. Modern concert halls are designed for the optimum amount of reverberation. Seats and some wall surfaces are covered with sound-absorbing material.
25
Q

What are some contemporary applications of ultrasound in industry and medicine?

A

Ultrasound has many applications in medicine. These include:

  1. Checking the condition of a foetus.
  2. Investigating liver problems.
  3. Investigating heart problems.
  4. Breaking down kidney stones and stones elsewhere in the body.
  5. Measuring the speed of blood flow in the body.
26
Q

What are the uses of radio waves?

A

Broadcasting
Communications
Satellite transmissions

27
Q

What are the uses of microwaves?

A

Cooking
Communications
Satellite transmissions

28
Q

What are the uses of infrared radiation?

A 
Cooking
Thermal imaging
Short range communications
Optical fibres
Television remote controls
Security systems
29
Q

What are the uses of visible light?

A

Vision
Photography
Illumination

30
Q

What are the uses of ultra-violet radiation?

A

Security marking
Fluorescent lamps
Detecting forged banknotes
Disinfecting water

31
Q

What are the uses of X-rays?

A

Observing the internal structure of objects.
Airport security scanners.
Medical X-rays.

32
Q

What are the uses of gamma rays?

A

Sterilising food and medical equipment.

Detection of cancer and its treatment.

33
Q

Over-exposure to certain types of electromagnetic radiation can be harmful. The higher the frequency of the radiation, …

A

The more damage it is likely to cause the body.

34
Q

What are the dangers of microwave radiation?

A

Microwaves cause internal heating of body tissues.

35
Q

What are the dangers of infrared radiation?

A

Infrared radiation is felt as heat and causes skin burns.

36
Q

What are the dangers of X-rays?

A

X-rays damage cells, causing mutations (which may lead to cancer) and cell death.

37
Q

What are the dangers of gamma rays?

A

Gamma rays also damage cells, causing mutations (which may lead to cancer) and cell death.

38
Q

Images formed in a plane mirror are …

A

Left-right reversed

Laterally inverted

39
Q

What is a real image?

A

A real image is one which can be produced on a screen and is formed by rays which actually pass through it.

40
Q

What is a virtual image?

A

A virtual image cannot be formed on a screen and is produced by rays which seem to come from it but do not pass through it.

41
Q

The image in a plane mirror is …

A

Virtual

42
Q

What is refraction?

A

Refraction is the bending of light as it passes from one media to another.

43
Q

What is a medium?

A

A medium is a particular material with uniform density.

44
Q

Why can a spectrum be produced on a screen?

A

A spectrum can be produced on a screen because different colours of light travel at different speeds in glass.

45
Q

Light dispersion

The greater the change in density of the medium, the greater the amount of refraction, the greater the change in (blank)

A

Speed

46
Q

What is a spectrum?

A

A band of colours obtained after shining a bright white light through a triangular glass prism.

47
Q

What is the name of the angle of incidence within the glass block which produces an emerging ray with an angle of refraction of 90°?

A

The critical angle

48
Q

What happens when the critical angle is exceeded?

A

Total internal reflection

49
Q

What is an optical fibre?

A

Several thousand single, very thin glass fibres taped together to form a flexible light pipe.

50
Q

What role does total internal reflection play in optical fibres?

A

A ray of light entering the fibre undergoes total internal reflection at a bend. This means that the light cannot escape and so it travels along the fibre by a series of internal reflections.

51
Q

Principle focus

A

The point onto which light rays parallel to the principle axis converge.

52
Q

Optical centre

A

A point on the axis of a lens located so that any ray of light travelling parallel to the principle axis which intersects is point suffers no deviation. This also applies to rays at any angle.

53
Q

Focal length

A

The distance between the optical centre of a lens and its principle focus.

54
Q

Principle axis

A

A line which passes through the centre of the surface of a lens.

55
Q

What method is used to determine the focal length of a converging lens?

A

Distant object method

  • Biconvex/convex lens
  • Half metre stick
  • White screen
  • The light rays are coming from far away, light rays are parallel.
  • Therefore when light rays hit the lens, they will all converge on the focal point, producing an image.
  • Move the lens closer or farther away from the screen until a sharp, clear image is obtained.
  • When this occurs the distance between the centre of the lens and the screen is equal to the focal length of the lens.
  • Use the half metre stick to measure this distance.

S2 GCSE Physics Unit 2 (6 decks)

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