Visible Light and the Solar System

Question 0

Define heliocentric

Answer 0

Sun centred

Sun centre of Solar System, planets orbiting

Question 1

Define geocentric

Answer 1

Earth centred

Earth centre of Solar System, planets & sun orbiting

Question 2

How do scientists use waves to find out information about the universe?

Answer 2

Visible light waves - study distant objects (telescope, naked eye, photography)
Radio waves & microwaves - detect objects that do not give out visible light (different types of telescopes)

Question 3

How did Galileo’s observations of Jupiter using the telescope provide evidence for the heliocentric model of the solar system?

Answer 3

By plotting movement of moons around Jupiter, showed that not everything orbited Earth.

Question 4

Explain how to measure focal length of converging lens using a distant object.

Answer 4

Distance between focus & lens - focal length of that lens

Focal length can be found by focusing image of distant object onto paper

Question 5

How does the eyepiece of a simple telescope magnify the image of a distant object produced by the objective lens?

Answer 5

Convex (objective) lens creates an image inside the tube and eyepiece lens magnifies image

Question 6

How are waves refracted?

Answer 6

At boundaries between different materials

Question 7

How are waves refracted at boundaries?

Answer 7

Occurs because light travels at different speeds in different materials. Part of wave hits boundary first so slows down first, wave refracts.
Air –> glass: slows down, refracts towards normal.

Question 8

How are waves reflected?

Answer 8

At boundaries between different materials waves are reflected.

Question 9

How does a reflecting telescope work?

Answer 9

Light enters telescope at parallel angles & hits concave primary mirror which focuses image. Reflects off at angle and goes in a straight line at secondary mirror. Light rays reflected towards eyepiece lens, which magnifies image.

Question 10

What do waves transfer?

Answer 10

Energy and information, without transferring matter

Question 11

Define frequency (waves)

Answer 11

The number of waves passing a point each second (Hz)

Question 12

Define wavelength

Answer 12

The distance between a point on one wave and the same point on the next (m)

Question 13

Define amplitude

Answer 13

The maximum distance of particles in a wave from their normal positions

Question 14

Define speed

Answer 14

Distance a wave travels in one second (m/s)

Question 15

What is a longitudinal wave?

Answer 15

Waves in which particles move back and forth in parallel with the direction of movement of the energy. The direction of energy transfer is parallel to the direction of the vibration which causes them.

Question 16

What is a transverse wave?

Answer 16

Waves in which movements are at right angles to the direction of movements of energy (electromagnetic waves)

Question 17

What is the equation for wave speed?

Answer 17

Distance/time, frequency x wavelength