Wave Properties

Question 1

What’s a mechanical wave?

Answer 1

A wave that relies on particles vibrating to move.

Question 2

Give an example of a mechanical wave.

Answer 2

Water waves, sound waves, seismic waves and a rope.

Question 3

What’s an electromagnetic wave?

Answer 3

Waves that move as a result of oscillating magnetic and electric fields.

Question 4

Give an example of a electromagnetic wave.

Answer 4

Radio, Micro, Infrared, Visible Light, Ultraviolet, X-Ray and Gamma.

Question 5

What’s a transverse wave?

Answer 5

Waves where the matter travels perpendicular to the wave.

Question 6

What’s a longitudinal wave?

Answer 6

Waves where the matter travels parallel to the wave.

Question 7

What’s the definition of a wavelength?

Answer 7

The distance from the point in one wave to the next successive point in another.

Question 8

What would be the best way to measure a wavelength?

Answer 8

Measure from one peak / trough to the next peak / trough

Question 9

If two particles in a wave are in phase then how much degrees will they be apart by?

Answer 9

360°

Question 10

If two particles in a wave are perfectly out of phase then how much degrees will they be apart by?

Answer 10

180°

Question 11

What’s the definition of a period?

Answer 11

The time taken for one complete wave cycle.

Question 12

What’s the definition of amplitude?

Answer 12

The maximum displacement from the particles resting position.

Question 13

What’s the definition of frequency?

Answer 13

The number of wave cycles per second.

Question 14

How do we calculate wave speed?

Answer 14

V = f x λ

Question 15

What is the speed of light?

Answer 15

c = 3x10⁸

Question 16

What is refraction?

Answer 16

Where a wave changes direction as it moves from one medium to another.

Question 17

What is diffraction?

Answer 17

Where waves spread out once they go through or around an obstacle

Question 18

Which type of waves can be polarised?

Answer 18

Transverse waves are the only waves that can be polarised.

Question 19

How do we calculate the speed of light?

Answer 19

c = f x λ

Question 20

What does it mean if a wave is plane polarised?

Answer 20

That waves vibrations are only in one plane.

Question 21

Why does putting two polaroid filters at a 90° rotation from each other cause them to block out light?

Answer 21

Polaroid filters only let through light waves of plane. By having another one that blocks out the opposite orientation of the first one, there are no more planes for the light to travel in.

Question 22

What is the cycle of a wave?

Answer 22

The cycle of a wave is from one maximum displacement to the next maximum displacement.

Question 23

What is the displacement in a wave?

Answer 23

The displacement in a wave is the particles position from the rest / equilibrium position.

Question 24

How are frequency and wavelength related?

Answer 24

Frequency and wavelength are inversely proportional.

Question 25

What is the law of reflection?

Answer 25

The angle of incidence = The angle of reflection

Question 26

What happens when refraction occurs?

Answer 26

The waves speed and direction will change when it crosses the boundary.

Question 27

What is refraction?

Answer 27

The change of direction in a wave when it passes from one medium to another.

Question 28

How do you measure wave properties in water waves?

Answer 28

You can use a ripple tank.

Question 29

What is diffraction?

Answer 29

The spreading out of waves after going through a gap or around an obstacle.

Question 30

What effect does gap size have on diffraction?

Answer 30

The narrower the gap, the more spread out the waves become. The large the gap, the less spread out the waves become.

Question 31

What effect does wavelength have on diffraction?

Answer 31

A longer wavelength means less wave spread.

Question 32

What is superposition?

Answer 32

Where two waves meet and combine.

Question 33

What is the principle of superposition?

Answer 33

When two waves meet, the total displacement at a point is equal to the total of the two preceding waves.

Question 34

What happens when two crests or two troughs meet each other in superposition?

Answer 34

They combine to make a super crest or a super trough.

Question 35

What happens when a crest and a trough of same amplitude meet each other in superposition?

Answer 35

They cancel each other out.

Question 36

What is interference?

Answer 36

Where at least two waves pass through each other causing cancellation and reinforcement of waves at certain positions.