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Physics > Unit 6 - Waves > Flashcards

Unit 6 - Waves Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the two types of waves?

A
  1. Transverse
  2. Longitudinal
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2
Q

What is a transverse wave?

A

A wave for which the oscillations are
perpendicular to the direction of energy
transfer.

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3
Q

What is a longitudinal wave?

A

A wave for which the oscillations are
parallel to the direction of energy
transfer

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4
Q

Give two examples of transverse waves.

A
  1. Electromagnetic waves
  2. Seismic s-waves
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5
Q

Give two examples of longitudinal
waves.

A
  1. Sound waves
  2. Seismic p-waves
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6
Q

What are the two parts of a longitudinal
wave called?

A

Compressions and rarefactions.

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7
Q

What is a wave’s amplitude?

A

The maximum displacement of a point
on a wave from its undisturbed position.

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8
Q

What is wavelength?

A

● The distance from a point on a wave to
the same position on the adjacent
wave
● Most commonly peak to peak or
trough to trough

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9
Q

What is the frequency of a wave?

A

The number of waves that pass a given
point each second.

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10
Q

What is the unit used for frequency?

A

Hertz, Hz

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11
Q

What is meant by a frequency of 200Hz?

A

200 waves pass a given point each
second.

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12
Q

What is wave speed?

A

The speed at which the wave moves or
at which energy is transferred through a
medium.

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13
Q

What does a wave transfer?

A

Energy

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14
Q

State the equation used to calculate
wave speed. Give appropriate units.

A

Wave Speed = Frequency x Wavelength
Speed (m/s), Frequency (Hz),
Wavelength (m)

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15
Q

What word is used to describe when a
wave bounces off a surface?

A

Reflection

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16
Q

How do sound waves travel through a
solid?

A

The particles in the solid vibrate and
transfer kinetic energy through the
material.

17
Q

What is the frequency range of human
hearing?

A

20 Hz - 20kHz
(1kHz = 1000 Hz)

18
Q

What are ultrasound waves?

A

Waves which have a frequency higher
than the upper limit of human hearing
(20kHz).

19
Q

What natural event causes seismic
waves to be produced? What types are
produced?

A

● Earthquakes
● They produce both P-waves and
S-waves

20
Q

State a difference between the mediums
that P-waves and S-waves can travel
through.

A

● P-waves travel through both solids and
liquids
● S-waves only travel through solids
(not liquids)

21
Q

What technique is used to detect objects
in deep water and measure water depth?

A

● Echo sounding
● High frequency sound waves are emitted,
reflected and detected
● Time difference between emission and detection,
alongside wave speed, are used to calculate
distances

22
Q

What type of spectrum do
electromagnetic waves form?

A

A continuous spectrum.

23
Q

Order the types of electromagnetic
radiation from lowest to highest
frequency.

A

● Radio waves
● Microwaves
● Infrared
● Visible Light
● Ultraviolet
● X-rays
● Gamma Rays

24
Q

How do the speeds of EM radiation differ
in a vacuum and in air?

A

Electromagnetic waves all travel at the
same speed in a vacuum and in air.

25
Q

What property of waves in different
mediums causes refraction?

A

● Velocity
● Wave speed is slower in denser
materials, causing refraction

26
Q

In which direction (relative to the normal)
do waves refract when entering a denser
medium?

A

● They bend towards the normal
● The angle of refraction is less than the
angle of incidence

27
Q

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

A

Radio waves.

28
Q

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

A

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

29
Q

Where do gamma rays originate from?

A

They originate from changes in the
nuclei of atoms.

30
Q

What health effects can ultraviolet waves
cause?

A

● They can cause the skin to age
prematurely
● The can increase the risk of
developing skin cancer

31
Q

Give three practical uses for infrared
radiation

A
  1. Electrical heaters
  2. Cooking food
  3. Infrared cameras
32
Q

What health effects can X-rays and
Gamma rays cause?

A

● They are ionising radiation so can
cause mutations in genes
● They can lead to increased risk of
developing various cancers

33
Q

Give two practical uses for microwave
radiation.

A
  1. Satellite communications
  2. Cooking food
34
Q

Give two practical uses for radio waves.

A
  1. Television transmission
  2. Radio transmission

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