Waves Flashcards
Reflection
Wave changes direction at the boundary of a medium:
- moves away from new medium
- angle of incidence = angle of reflection
Refraction
Wave changes direction as it passes between mediums:
- moves into new medium
- wavelength and speed change
- wave bends towards normal when slowing down
Find wave speed
Speed = wavelength*frequency (v = λf)
Polarised waves
- oscillations in only one plane
- only transverse waves
Polarising filter
- filters oscillations into one direction
- unpolarised»_space; polarised causes a brightness decrease
- polarised»_space; polarised effect depends on angle of the filters
Result of two parallel polarising filters
Same as a single filter
Result of two perpendicular polarising filters
Blocks most light
Intensity
Radiant power through a surface per unit area
P/A
Find intensity at distance r from a spherical wave source
Intensity = power/spherical surface area (I = P/4πr²)
Relationship between intensity and amplitude
Intensity is proportional to amplitude^2
Snell’s law
n1sin(i) = n2sin(r)
Find refractive index
Refractive index = speed in vacuum/speed in material
n = c/v
Where are angles measured from in reflection and refraction?
The normal to the boundary
Snell’s law for critical angle
n1*sin(i) = n2
because angle of refraction is 90 so sin(r) = 1
Total internal reflection
When angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle, so only reflection happens
Coherent waves
Waves with a constant phase difference at their sources
Wave superposition
Two waves overlap and resultant displacement = sum of individual displacements
How to form a stationary wave
Interference of two progressive waves with:
- opposite directions
- same speed
- same frequency
Nodes of a stationary wave
Points with no amplitude (displacement always 0)
Antinodes of a stationary wave
Points with max amplitude
Find wavelength using a diffraction pattern
Wavelength = slit separation*fringe separation/distance from screen
(nλ = dsinθ
or
nλ = ax/D)